First-of-its-kind Hindu festival in North Dakota coming to Fargo

FARGO — A day-long occasion that’s been a 12 months within the making will carry collectively Bengalis from the area for a primary of its form pageant in North Dakota.

Durgotsav 2022 can be held on the El Zagal Shrine in Fargo, 1429 third St. N., on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 8 a.m. till 10:30 p.m.

One of many main Hindu festivals, Durgotsav is just like Christmas, celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike.

Aparupa Chatterjee is an Indian dancer and president of the newly-formed Durga Puja Affiliation of North Dakota, which is organizing the occasion.

“We wished to come back collectively to start out a cultural expertise that was not there till now,” she mentioned.

The affiliation’s mission is to unfold and protect the heritage, philosophy and custom of Bengali tradition by way of this pageant.

Most frequently celebrated in Bengal, the area made up of West Bengal and Bangladesh, the pageant is often a 10-day occasion in September and October.

The pageant in Fargo will condense the final 5 days of celebration into one, to incorporate worship, Indian meals, youngsters video games, dance, music and a vogue present.

The occasion is targeted on Durga, a serious Hindu goddess who represents feminine energy and power, Chatterjee mentioned.

An enormous idol or statue of Durga has been shipped from India only for this occasion, she mentioned.

The day begins at 8 a.m. with worship and prayer led by a revered monk, Swami Chandrashekharananda, who’s touring to Fargo from the Vedanta Society of Portland, Oregon.

Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney will inaugurate the pageant at 9 a.m.

A lunch, snack and dinner can be catered by the Fargo restaurant, Passage to India, and many types of home made Indian sweets can be served.

There can be a number of types of dance, together with Dandiya, which anybody can do and is carried out as a big group.

Dhunuchi dance is carried out holding an earthen pot containing coconut husk and the Indian equal of frankincense, which is lit on fireplace and releases a purifying smoke.

“It brings within the spirituality of the pageant,” Chatterjee mentioned.

One other attraction is Sindur Khela, which interprets to “vermillion sport,” the place ladies smear a beauty powder of vermillion pink pigment on one another, which is meant to carry good luck.

In Bengal, ladies put on the powder in a circle on their brow to indicate they’re married.

“We put that on the cheeks of ladies or ladies to indicate ladies energy,” Chatterjee mentioned.

Greater than 400 persons are pre-registered for the occasion, together with Bengali households from Fargo-Moorhead and the Grand Forks space, however the occasion is open to everybody.

Tickets on the door are $40 for non-students and $25 for college students; normal admission and not using a ticket is allowed up till 1 p.m.

Up till now, native Bengalis needed to journey to Hindu temples within the Twin Cities to attend such a pageant, or just mark these cultural actions at dwelling, Chatterjee mentioned.

The pageant won’t solely present momentum for this to change into a rising and extra distinguished occasion, she mentioned, however will regularly entice extra Indians from everywhere in the Midwest to Fargo.

Durgotsav 2022 Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 1

8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Worship

1 p.m. — Serving of Bengali sweets and fruits

2 to three:30 p.m. — Lunch by Passage to India

4:30 to five:30 p.m. — Dandiya and Dhunuchi dance

5:30 p.m. — Snacks by Passage to India

6:30 to eight:30pm — Cultural program, music, vogue present, dance

9 p.m. — Dinner by Passage to India