Durga Puja is one of the grandest and most-awaited Indian festivals. It is a most spectacular celebration in the Indian state of Bengal. However, the festival is celebrated with equal enthusiasm wherever Bengalis are in the world. About two dozen of Durga Puja events in New Jersey and New York transform the northeast cost into a mini Bengal with cultural exuberance this time of the year. Bengali associations across New York and New Jersey started preparations months ago, so the festivity does not fall short of joy and happiness in their adopted home. They can live away from home, but can’t survive without the blessings of Maa Durga, the bliss of bhoger kichudi, the beats of dhak, and the ecstasy of dunuchi naach.
Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, recommends some of the best places for Durga puja 2025 in New York and New Jersey. “Elo re Dugga elo re…”
Times Square Durga Puja, New York
After the historic debut of Durga Puja celebration at Times Square in 2024, the divine celebration is back this year. Usually, Times Square is a popular venue for Diwali, Yoga, and Indian Independence Day celebrations. Unlike other Durga puja events in USA, the 2-day Times Square Durga Puja is a free event for all, regardless of their nationality and religion. It is being organized by Bengali Club of USA .
- Date: October 1 and 2
- Contact: contact@timessquaredurgapuja.org, +1315-586-3372
Sanskriti Durga Puja 2025: Buffalo, New York
Sanskriti, a Bengali cultural association in Buffalo, is one of the best and oldest Durga Puja celebrations in New York. Founded in 1974-75, the Sanskriti Durga Puja is a cultural platform for the present generation of Bengali Diaspora in the northeast US to have a tryst with their heritage, literature, and traditions thousands of miles away from India. Sanskriti also celebrates other festivals with equal enthusiasm. They also organize Kojagori Lokkhi puja at the same venue.
Sanskriti will organize a Bijoya Dinner on the last day of the puja. On October 4, the Sanskriti Buffalo Durga Puja committee will host a Bijoya sommelani and a live performance by Sa Re Ga Ma Pa fame Sneha Bhattacharya at Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center, Williamsville, Renaissance Drive. Earlier, their event was graced by such renowned performing artists as Purna Das Boul and Bhupen Hazarika.
- Dates: September 26, 27, 28
- Venue: Hindu Cultural Society, Big Temple Auditorium, 1595 N French Road, Getzville, NY 14068
- Contact: president@buffalosanskriti.org, +1 623-499-2329
- Website: Buffalosanskriti.org
New York Kali Mandir Durga Puja, Baldwin
New York Kali Mandir located close to JFK International Airport is the destination if you wish to celebrate Durga Puja in the most traditional manner. Inspired by the Dakshineswar Kali Temple of Kolkata, NYKM is home to Goddess Kali worshiped by Bengalis and other Indian communities. Founded in 2005, the temple doubles up as a community organization and helps preserve the age-old Bengali cultural traditions in New Yok Metropolitan Area. The temple has a well-stocked library for all age groups. Those interested in volunteering can serve the temple this Durga Puja.
- Dates: September 27 to 30
- Venue: 614 Seaman Ave, Baldwin, NY, 11510
- Contact: nykmdevotee@gmail.com, +1 516-771-5254
- Website: Nykalimandir.org
Also read: Sanyal Brothers Offer Best Kolkata Street Food with Chai in New York
Durga Puja at Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York
Durga Puja at the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York for the followers of the Ramakrishna order is among the best Durga puja celebrations in the Greater New York Area. Founded in 1933, the center organizes the puja to worship the Divine Mother and seek Her blessings for humankind. The chanting of sacred hymns and the singing of devotional songs in chorus are the mainstay of their celebration without pomp and in strict adherence to the principles laid out by Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Missions worldwide.
- Dates: To be announced
- Venue: 17 E 94th St, New York, NY 10128
- Contact: (212) 534-9445
- E-mail: rvcenternewyork@gmail.com
- Website: Ramakrishna.org
East Coast Cultural Association Durga Puja, NY
The East Coast Cultural Association, one of the youngest communities in New York, has planned a spectacular Durga puja celebration this year to mark its third anniversary. Founded in 2022, the non-profit Bong organization strives to create the ambience of parar pujo in Kolkata through a grand display of traditional Bengali culture, ranging from mouthwatering dishes to live music programs, at their puja venue. The schedule of ECCA Durga Puja 2025 includes three musical evenings by Sneha Bhattacharya on SEP 26, Madhubanti Bagchi on SEP 27, and Albert Kabo Lepcha on SEP 28.
- Dates: September 26, 27, 28
- Venue: Gujarati Samaj Hall, 17315 Horace Harding Expy, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365
- Contact: eastcoastcultural@gmail.com
- Website: Eccany.com
Utsov Durga Puja 2025 in New Jersey
Utsov Inc. is known for one of the biggest Durga Puja events in New Jersey. Their celebration, both traditional and contemporary, has a number of ‘wow’ factors – delectable Bengali food, Sindoor Khela, Dhunuchi dance, cultural programs, and art competition for kids. East Brunswick near Edison is the location of their puja venue that will turn into a Disneyland of festivities and revelry for two days as Utsov Inc. has invited the powerhouse voice of Bengal, Rupankar Bagchi, and the sensational Indian singing duo, Nandy Sisters (Ankita and Antara).
Legendary Lakkhichhara and Raju Das Baul – who are the titans of Bengali rock – will churn out popular Baul music and take the exuberance of NJ Utsov Durga Puja celebration to the fever pitch on OCT 5. Prior registration is compulsory to enter the venue and attend the live events.
- Dates: October 4 and 5
- Contact: 201 787 6861 or 516 519 1434, utsov@utsov.org
- Venue: Jo Ann Magistro Performing Arts Center, 200 Rues Lane, East Brunswick, NJ
- Website: Utsov.org
Also read: Indian Food is a Pure Bliss at This Temple Kitchen in New York
Garden State Puja Committee’s 44th Durga Puja in New Jersey
One of the oldest and biggest Durga Puja events in New Jersey is organized by the Bengalis of Garden State Puja Committee, Jersey City. GSPC Durga Utsov 2025 will celebrate its 44th anniversary over foot-tapping numbers of the most popular bands, Euphoria on 4 OCT and Fossils on 5 OCT. Bongobhoj – a traditional Bengali food fare – is the mainstay of their celebration.
The pandal modelled on thakur dalan, a distinct feature of mansions dating back to the feudal era of Bengal, has already been shipped from Kolkata to New Jersey. This is the biggest attraction of GSPC Durga Puja in Jersey City.
- Dates: October 3 to 5
- Venue: William L. Dickinson High School, 2 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
- Contact: +1 201-993-4577 | info@gardenstatepuja.org
- Website: gspcnj.com
New Jersey Kallol Durga Puja 2025
Among the Durga Puja celebrations in New Jersey, Kallol Durga Puja hits the headlines every year. Of the oldest Bengali organizations in the northeast coast, Kallol will transform Somerset into a mini City of Joy with cultural and musical extravaganza for 4 days, SEP 25 to 28.
Raj Burman will make the audience groove to his hit numbers on September 25, while Silajit Majumder will set the stage on fire with his soulful songs on September 26. Anirban & Band Hooliganism will take over the stage on September 27 and their foot-tapping performance will make the evening unforgettable. Kallol New Jersey Durga Puja in 2025 will be a rollercoaster ride of fun and joy over music by Sambuddha Chatterjee and Amit Kumar on September 28.
- Dates: September 25 to 28
- Venue: Ukranian Cultural Center, 135 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, New Jersey 08873
- Contact: 732.290.5218
- Website: Kallol.com
Also read: Why Bengal worships living goddesses during Durga puja
Agrani Durga Puja, Plainfield NJ
Agrani Durga Puja in Plainfield near Edison is one of the 10 best Indian events in New Jersey in October 2025. Like WomenNow TV’s Durga Puja in California, the women members of Agrani NJ organize the puja, from fabulous feasting to cultural extravaganza. Equally popular with the Bong and non-Bengalis in Central New Jersey, Agrani Durga Puja promises to be an exhilarating experience for music connoisseurs. Antara Mitra, a renowned Bollywood playback singer, will set the stage on fire on October 4.
- Dates: October 4 and 5
- Venue: 730 Central St Plainfield, NJ 07062 United States
- Contact: Info@agranicnj.org
Alor Benu Durga Puja in Edison, NJ
The ‘Ekchala’ style Durga idol is the main attraction of this humble celebration by a few Bengali families in Edison, NJ. This is more a gharoa (homely) puja than a community puja. The festive evenings from September 26-28 will see various cultural indulgences by the organizers and their families. The puja schedule is chock-a-block with traditional rituals from pushpanjali to the Goddess in the morning to dhunuchi naach in the evening to a family dinner at night.
- Dates: September 26, 27 and 28
- Venue: 2 Farmhaven Avenue, Edison, NJ 08820
- Contact: aamantran@aalorbenu.net, (908) 294-1954
New Jersey Ananda Mandir Durga Puja 2025
Durga Puja at Ananda Mandir in New Jersey is a most traditional one. Hundreds of New Jersey Indians throng the shrine to immerse themselves in festive revelries for five days. New Jersey Ananda Mandir is one of the few Hindu temples in USA that follows the Bengali calendar precisely for celebrating Durga Puja and other festivals. The temple that also doubles up as an Indian cultural center was commissioned in 1995 and completed in 2003. You may need to pre-register online. On successful registration, you would receive a confirmation email, which you can show to the volunteers at the temple complex.
- Dates: September 27 to October 2
- Venue: 269 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873-5212
- Contact: (732) 873-9821 or info@anandamandir.org
- Website: Anandamandir.org
Garden State Cultural Association: Plainfield, NJ
Among the best places for Durga Puja 2025 in New Jersey, Garden State Cultural Association (GSCA) is gearing up for their 34th year of the celebration. GSCA, a nonprofit Indian American organization of Bengalis in Plainfield, leaves no stone unturned to make Durga Puja a grand get-together of not only Bengalis but also other Indian communities over delicious food, shopping, and cultural entertainment. The interesting lineup of events include talent shows and drawing competitions.
Registration is compulsory to attend the celebration, especially cultural programs. You can register on their website given below. Popular Indian singers Jayati Chakraborty, Avishek Sinha, and Shreyasi Bhattacharjee are among the eminent guests this year.
- Dates: October 4 and 5
- Venue: Melvin H. Kreps Middle School, 5 Kent Lane East Windsor, NJ-08520
- Contact: (908) 367-3322 or contact@gsca.us
- Website: web.gsca.us
Also Read: Payal Saha’s Kati Roll from Kolkata Rocks in New York
Bengali Cultural Society Durga Puja: South Jersey
In New Jersey, Bengali Cultural Society’s Durga Puja celebration is a lot more than food, fun and frolic. Rather, it mirrors the rich cultural heritage of Bengal on the American soil. Founded in 1978, Bengali Cultural Society is not just one of the oldest Bengali diaspora associations but a philanthropic organization too. They publish their own magazine Sanskriti every year and run a Bengali language school for their young ones and those interested in learning the language. Each day of the puja will culminate in an authentic Bengali community dinner.
You can check out their extensive menu for festive bhuribhoj on their Facebook page. Grammy Award winner Mahalaxmi Iyer, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa winner Sourav Das, Bengali folk singer Poushali Banerjee, and music composer and singer Ranajoy Bhattacharjee are among the special guests for this year’s Durga Puja event at BCSSJ.
- Dates: October 3, 4, 5
- Venue: Indian Cultural Center, 820 NJ-73, Marlton, NJ 08053
- Contact: info@bcssj.org
- Website: Bcssj.org
New Jersey Bharat Sevashram Sangha Durga Puja
The New Jersey chapter of Bharat Sevashram Sangha celebrates Durga Puja to worship the Supreme Power of the universe. The chanting of slokas and hymns reverberates in the air of the ashram temple on the five days of Durga Puja. Devotees can soak in numinous vibes that the ambience is rife with this time of the year. Bharat Sevashram Sangha is one of the few places where all the rituals of Durga Puja are strictly followed in compliance with the scriptures. Devotees are requested to pre-register for the puja.
- Dates: September 20 and 21; September 28 to October 2
- Location: 3490 Route-27 Kendral Park, New Jersey 08824
- Contact: 732 422 8880/ 347 735 2984 | devotees@sevashramsangha.org
- Website: sevashramsangha.org
Trinayani Durga Puja in Plainsboro, New Jersey
A non-profit organization established in 2022 with the aim to promote India’s rich art and culture, Trinayani is eyeing a theme-based Durga Puja celebration in a grander fashion this year. In its inaugural year (2022), Trinayani was the first and only one to have worshipped the protima (idol) made by Prabasi Bengalis among the community members. The Bong being great foodies complement their festivities with sumptuous food.
The musical acts to be performed by Rathijeet and Anweshaa, on October 4 and 5 respectively, will make you not only groove to live music but also feel nostalgic. You may contact Trinayani for registrations.
- Dates: October 4 and 5
- Venue:5 Adams Ct Plainsboro NJ 08536
- Contact: contact@trinayaninj.org
- Website: www.trinayaninj.org
PBA Agomoni and Durga Puja 2025
Princeton Bengali Association in New Jersey will invoke Maa Durga on Mahalaya (September 21) through their ‘Agomoni’ program and celebrate Durga Puja on October 20 in West Windsor. Dhunuchi naach, Sindoor khela and other traditional rituals are the hallmarks of their humble celebration. Rishi Panda, a popular YouTuber and singer, has been invited for a musical evening at PBA Durga Puja in New Jersey. The event is free for kids (5 years and below).
- Date: September 21
- Venue: Dutch Neck Elementary School, 392 Village Rd E, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550, USA
- Contact: pbanj.org
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Hi I have seen your article Durga Puja in NJ and NY. I am very disappointed to see some 50year old Durga Pujas in New Jersey missing from your list. They are renowned Durga pujas and should be included in the list. I need to discuss with someone who can help me publish the names of other durga pujas too.
Thanks
Hi Arpita! Indeed, it is unfortunate that we missed out on Maitree Association’s Durga Puja event in our list. We’re sincerely for this. Your message has been shared with the editorial team. Thanks!
I am here in Kew Gardens living with my son. This year I will be in USA only during Puja time. The nearest Puja from our place is perhaps in New York Kali Mandir near JFK Airport. Can you give me an idea of their celebrations and whether I am required to have any sort of prior registration or booking? Any idea about there subscription?
Hello Mr Chatterjee! Be requested to visit their website Nykalimandir.org where you will see their 2024 puja schedule. You can contact them at nykmdevotee@gmail.com or (516) 771-5254 for any queries. Shubho Pujo!