British Club Kolkata and the Bengal Chamber organised an Adda on 'A tale of two festive cities' at the British Club on 28th September, 2018.

Durga Puja is one of the world's grandest spectacles and the perfect 'living bridge' that connects Britain and Bengal.

Mr. Bruce Bucknell, British Deputy High Commissioner, Kolkata, who moderated the Adda said: "An estimated 700,000 people in the UK speak Bengali as one of their languages and I am told that there are more than 200 Bengali associations. The Bengali groups in the UK are quite vibrant with a strong connect to their country roots. They create what we have been calling in the British High Commission network as the 'living bridge'. It is a fantastic asset in creating goodwill between the two countries broadly in terms of understanding each other better. Durga Puja is truly one of Bengal's best known brands. The creativity on display during the festival in and around Kolkata is spectacular."

"In 2017, I attended a pandal in Kolkata with a replica of Buckingham Palace. It was outstanding. This year, we are going to see another UK themed pandal. A pandal in Baranagar, northern fringes of the city, will make a replica of Westminster Abbey," said Mr. Bucknell.

Mr. Bucknell moderated the Adda with Mr. Kounteya Sinha, former UK based journalist, writer, photographer along with a LIVE studio discussion from London. Some renowned Durga Puja organisers from in and around London such as Panchamukhee, Harrow, Sarbajanin Baba Lokenath Association Pujo (SBLA UK), East London, Adda Slough Pujo, Slough and Sanathan Association, Bethnal Green, East London. Sayatan Das Adhikari, Director, Candid Communication was also present in the London studio. Ms. Syeda Saima Ahmed anchored the London studio discussion.

The London based Durga Puja organisers told that they celebrate the festival following the same rituals as it is done in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal. Cultural programmes and inter-community involvement, food and bhog are vital parts of the festival. However, the immersion of the idols is not done in the UK as per local laws and regulations.

A lot of the idols in the UK are shipped from Kumartuli in Kolkata. On being asked, Mr. Sinha told that he would like to see a replica of Kumartuli made in the UK during the Durga Puja festival.

Members of the British Club Kolkata, the Bengal Chamber, press and media actively participated in the Adda. JIS Group was the Presenting Sponsor of the event. The event was supported by ION TV (UK), JGB Agro Fresh, Hermes Voyages and Candid Communication.