Building on the success of Prabashi over the past seven years and the support of our patrons and well-wishers we are committed to organise a eighth edition of the Durga Puja in Hounslow. As we embark on this exciting journey, it is a pleasure to extend our warm invitation and seek your support to make this year's event a bigger success. Our event this year will run for four (4) days – from the 4th to the 7th October at Ashiana Banqueting Hall (50-52 Bell Road, Hounslow, TW3 3PB). This year we are expecting a footfall of around eight thousand and wider media coverage of our celebration. We solicit your whole-hearted cooperation, support and participation and those of your friends, families and acquaintances. This unique platform will provide an opportunity to canvass your products and services through souvenirs, banners, stalls, leaflets & website advertisements and reach out to the wider UK Asian community and beyond.
This is the Puja Nirghanta decided as of now. Please review few days before Puja for any changes.
| Start time | Friday (20th October, 2023) |
Saturday (21st October, 2023) |
Sunday (22nd October, 2023) |
Monday (23rd October, 2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Puja begins | |||
| 9:00 AM | Puja begins | KUMARI PUJA | Puja begins | |
| 10:00 AM | Puja begins | Arati & Pushpanjali | ||
| 11:00 AM | Havana | |||
| 11:30 AM | Immersion & Shantivari | |||
| 12:00 noon | Sindur Utsav | |||
| 12:30 PM | Arati & Pushpanjali | Arati & Pushpanjali | Arati & Pushpanjali | Prasad & Bhog Distribution |
| 1:00 PM | Prasad & Bhog Distribution | Prasad & Bhog Distribution | Prasad & Bhog Distribution | |
| 5:30 PM | Cultural Programme | Cultural Programme | Cultural Programme | |
| 6:00 PM | ||||
| 07.36 PM TO 08.24 PM | SANDHI PUJA | |||
| 8:00 PM | Sandhyarati & Pushpanjali | Sandhyarati & Pushpanjali | ||
| 8:30 PM | Sandhyarati & Pushpanjali | |||
| 9:30 PM | Prasad & Bhog Distribution | Prasad & Bhog Distribution | Prasad & Bhog Distribution | |
| Goddess Durga's arrival is on Ghotak and | ||||
| Goddess Durga's departure is on Ghotak | ||||
| Shashthi | ||||
| Shasthi is when Goddess Durga descends to earth with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya and Ganesh. The ritual consists of installing the ghata and praying to the Divine Mother to awaken. The holy presence of Goddess Durga is invoked into the idols in a ritual called Pran Pratisthan. The day commences with the Kola Bou bath, dressed in a sari, and used to transport the goddess's energy. Nine different types of plants are worshiped, representing the nine divine forms of Goddess Durga. | ||||
| Ashtami : | ||||
| Ashtami is one of the most significant days of Durga Puja. The goddess is worshiped as Nava Durga (nine aspects of Durga) and Goddesses Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalani, Durga, Shiva, Kshama, Dhatri, Svaha and Svadha. In the evening, the important Sandhi Puja is performed to worship Goddess Durga in her Chamunda form - Kali who killed the demon Chanda and Munda. Sandhi Puja is considered to be the highest point in the whole Durga Puja and the most important ritual. | ||||
| The goddess is worshiped in the form of a young unmarried virgin girl, in a ritual called the Kumari Puja. Navami is the last day of worship, which concludes with a maha aarti, Devi Havan (Homa) and to mark the end of the rituals and prayers. Goddess Durga is believed to have killed the buffalo demon Mahishasura on this day, and she's worshiped in the form of Mahisasuramardini. | ||||