Clanging cymbals, burning incense and blowing into conch shells, hundreds of Hindus from across the Chicago suburbs venerated a 10-armed fiberglass idol Sunday afternoon in the cafeteria of Streamwood High School.
The Durga Puja celebration mirrored a massive, exuberant annual festival in Calcutta, where many of the Indian immigrant families at the Streamwood event have their roots. “We try to stay close to our culture as much as we can,” said Anindita Mukherjee, president of the Bengali Association of Greater Chicago, which organized the three days of festivities.
At the center of the boisterous ceremonies was the Hindu goddess Durga. According to Hindu beliefs, Durga vanquishes evil and brings blessings. Dressed in flowing new traditional robes, the participants offered prayers, flowers, sliced fruits and sweets to the deity.
Durga Puja is the cultural highlight for Bengalis across the world. A Bengali proverb states that wherever there are three Bengalis, there will be a Durga Puja festival.
Large-scale Bengali immigration to the Chicago area began 30 years ago, and the first Durga Puja here was held in 1970 in an immigrant couple’s Westmont apartment. This year, more than 1,500 Bengali immigrants and their American-born children attended Durga Puja. And the growth of the festival shows no signs of abating, as immigrants drawn to jobs in the computer industry continue to arrive.
Durga Puja binds them together, the immigrants say. Sudip Ghosh, manager of India Garden restaurant in Schaumburg, took his vacation days during Durga Puja.
“All year we look forward to this time of year so we can mix with our people,” Ghosh said.
This Durga Puja was especially poignant for the pioneers of the Bengali community in the Chicago area. Mukherjee, who manages the Kraft Singles brand of American cheese, is the first American-raised president of the organization.
Subrota Mukherjee (no relation to Anindita) of Schaumburg was a founder of the Bengali community here. Sunday, he beamed with pride as the second generation carried on the traditions of his generation.
“We are just increasing the diversity of this country,” he said. “This is the best country because you can be you and still be American.”
