New Horizons Seniors Program
Deshantari’s NHSP project started on 14 March, 2016 and will continue until 13 March, 2017 and the following members will be organizing the various senior activities during this time complementing Deshantari’s other regular activities:- Prabir Neogi (Chair and Core-Member)
- Atulesh Nandi (Core-Member)
- Arun Roy (Core-Member)
- Angsuman Rudra
- Manas Dan
- Anindo Maiti
Event Calendar Agenda View
2014 Durga Puja
Fri Oct 11 to Sun Oct 13, 2013
Deshantari’s main event the Durga Puja was organized at the Heron Gate Community Centre from 11 – 13 Oct, 2013. The Puja Chairperson welcomed the members with the following note:
“The countdown for the much awaited Deshantari event of the year is over. It is time for Durga Puja.
With festive alacrity we have made all the arrangements so that you have a wonderful time and enjoy a grand celebration of our culture and traditions. A large team of dedicated volunteers have been working very hard over the past couple of months in preparation for the ceremonial worship, rehearsing for the cultural programs, fund-raising and even researching on the latest culinary trends.
I know men are eagerly looking forward to their long “adda” sessions with friends over a cup of tea just as ladies have started checking out their latest sari and jewellery collection bought on their recent visits to India. Children can hardly wait for a few days of no homework but pure fun with their friends!
Without further ado, I on behalf of the Deshantari Executive Committee welcome you, your family and
friends to the 32nd Durga Puja in Ottawa. This year we have organized a variety of cultural programs
from Bengali Natak to children’s Talent show. There will be a diverse mix of garment and jewellery stalls for those of you who love to shop. A large group of volunteers have meticulously planned an exquisite selection of food and misti that you will find truly irresistible. During these three days we have also set-up a booth to collect food donations that would go towards the “Ottawa Food Bank”.
Finally I would like to thank my committee and all volunteers for their selfless dedication and hard work in making the arrangements for this year’s Durga Puja. Last but not least, a note of thanks goes to all our advertisers, sponsors and donors for their generous financial support.
I look forward to seeing you all and I am certain you will find this year’s Durga Puja as enjoyable as it
has always been! Once again, welcome to Durga Puja 2013.”
The program details and menu were as follows:
| Date | Program Details |
| Friday, Oct 11, 2013: Maha Sasthi Priests: Sushil K. Bhattacharya and Nirmal Sinha | 06:00 pm: Maha Shasthi Puja 07:00 pm: Sandhya Arati and Prasad 07:30 pm: Cultural Program (Kids Talent show) 08:30 pm: Dinner 09:30 pm: Cultural Program (Shefali and Group) 10:30 pm: Cultural Program (Classical Music) 11:45 pm: Hall Closing |
| Saturday, Oct 12, 2013: Maha Saptami & Maha Ashtami Morning Priests: Sushil K. Bhattacharya, Nirmal SinhaEvening Priests: Sushil K. Bhattacharya, Nirmal Sinha | 09:00 am: Maha Saptami & Maha Ashtami Puja 01:30 pm: Pushpanjali and Prasad 02:00 pm: Lunch06:00 pm: Sandhya Puja 07:30 pm: Sandhya Arati and Prasad 07:45 pm: Children’s Classical Dance 08:15 pm: Dinner 09:30 pm: Bengali Nathak – “Bhuter Bhobhishot” 12:45 pm: Hall Closing |
| Sunday, Oct 13, 2013: Maha Navami and Bijaya Dashami Morning Priests: Aditya Chakravarti and Ashutosh Bagchi | 10:00 am: Maha Navami Puja 12:00 pm: Dashami Puja, Bisharjon 01:30 pm: Sindur Khela 02:00 pm: Lunch 04:30 pm: Hall Closing |
The Durga Puja and Lakshmi festivities were attended by a record number of people. The Puja hall and
stall layout was completely changed this year to make room for a large number of people. The Executive
Committee received an overwhelming response and deep appreciation for a well organized event.
Members were particularly appreciative of the Bengali Nathak, the cultural program (Jalsa) on Lakshmi
Puja and the food selection and arrangements outstanding on all days. This was made possible by the
tireless work of a very large number of dedicated volunteers.
This year the committee also took initiative to collect items for the Ottawa Food Bank throughout the
festivities and also gave away boxes of Bengali books to anyone interested in reading Bengali books.
2014 Lakshmi Puja
Saturday Oct 19, 2013
Program:
| Date | Program Details |
| Saturday, 19 Oct, 2013: Lakshmi Puja Evening Priest: Nirmal Sinha | 05:00 pm: Lakshmi Puja 07:00 pm: Jalsa Program 08:15 pm: Variety Program 08:30 pm: Dinnerg |
The Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja festivities were attended by a record number of people. The Puja hall and stall layout was completely changed this year to make room for a large number of people. The Executive Committee received an overwhelming response and deep appreciation for a well organized event.
Members were particularly appreciative of the Bengali Nathak, the cultural program (Jalsa) on Lakshmi
Puja and the food selection and arrangements outstanding on all days. This was made possible by the
tireless work of a very large number of dedicated volunteers.
This year the committee also took initiative to collect items for the Ottawa Food Bank throughout the
festivities and also gave away boxes of Bengali books to anyone interested in reading Bengali books.
Saraswati Puja
Sunday, February 09, 2014
Deshantari celebrated Saraswati Puja on Sunday February 9th at the Ron Kolbus Center. The schedule of activities was as follows:
- Puja and Pushpanjali: 10 am-11.30 am (Hathekhori will be after puja)
- Children’s drawing competition: 11.30-12:00 pm
- Children’s talent show: 12:00-12:20
- Kobitar Asor: 12:25-1:00 pm
- Lunch: 1-2 pm
Among the other cultural programs Deshantari organized a “Kobitar Asor” performed by Mabhin Ghosh
Datta from Kalavatee Dance Centre and Saumita Banerjea, an invited elocutionist from Toronto. This
event received excellent response from all sections of the Community
2014 Annual Autumn Festival & Sharad Utsav
Durga Puja
Fri Oct 3 to Sun Oct 5, 2014
2014 Annual Autumn Festival & Sharad Utsav
Lakshmi Puja
Saturday Oct 11, 2014
NHSP – Transportation Assistance to Seniors
Transportation Assistance Service
1) Shared Taxi service to and from the venue of the event, provided to a limited number of Deshantari seniors with mobility issues
2) Durga & Lakshmi Puja celebration events at the Ron Kolbus Centre
3) Bijaya Sammilani event at the Kailash Mittal Theatre, Carleton Univ.
NHSP funds used
– These seniors are long standing members of Deshantari, who have mobility issues that prevent them from driving or taking OCTranspo,
-Without this assistance it would be impossible for them to attend these key religious and cultural events.
-Response from the seniors assisted was extremely positive.
Maha Sasthi and Maha Saptami Puja
Friday, Sept. 29, 2017
| Priest: Sushil Bhattacharya (Sasthi and Saptami morning) | |
| Tantra-dharak: Subhankar Pandit (Sasthi and Saptami morning) | |
| Priest: Nirmal Sinha (Saptami evening) | |
| Tantra-dharak: Mita Das (Saptami evening) | |
| Bhog: Shipra Chandra (morning) & Ila Datta (evening) | |
| Puja Lead: Sharmista Roy (morning) & Shila Biswas (evening) | |
| Timings | |
| Maha Sasthi puja and Bodhan | 10:30 A.M. – 12:30 PM |
| Maha Saptami puja | 12:45 P.M.– 3 PM |
| Evening puja | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Sandhya Arati | 7:00 PM – 7:15 PM |
| Cultural Program (play by children) | 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM |
| Dinner | 8:30 PM – 10 PM |
| Hall Closes | 11 PM |
Maha Astami and Sondhi Puja
Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017
| Priest: Sushil Bhattacharya | |
| Tantra-dharak (Astami puja): Bonnie Chakraborty | |
| Tantra-dharak (Sondhi puja): Subhankar Pandit | |
| Bhog: Shibani Cherla (morning) & Chitra Ghosh (evening) | |
| Puja Lead: Mita Das (morning) & Manoshi Kumar (evening) | |
| Timings | |
| Maha Astami puja | 8:30 AM – 12 Noon |
| Anjali | 12 Noon |
| Lunch | 1 PM- 2:30 PM |
| Sondhi puja | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Sandhya arati | 7:00 PM |
| Dinner | 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM |
| Cultural Program (Bangla Natak) | 9 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Hall Closes | 12:30 AM |
NHSP – Transportation Assistance to Seniors
Transportation Assistance Service
1) Shared Taxi service to and from the venue of the event, provided to a limited number of Deshantari seniors with mobility issues
2) Durga & Lakshmi Puja celebration events at the Ron Kolbus Centre
3) Bijaya Sammilani event at the Kailash Mittal Theatre, Carleton Univ.
NHSP funds used
– These seniors are long standing members of Deshantari, who have mobility issues that prevent them from driving or taking OCTranspo,
-Without this assistance it would be impossible for them to attend these key religious and cultural events.
-Response from the seniors assisted was extremely positive.
NHSP – Transportation Assistance to Seniors
Transportation Assistance Service
1) Shared Taxi service to and from the venue of the event, provided to a limited number of Deshantari seniors with mobility issues
2) Durga & Lakshmi Puja celebration events at the Ron Kolbus Centre
3) Bijaya Sammilani event at the Kailash Mittal Theatre, Carleton Univ.
NHSP funds used
– These seniors are long standing members of Deshantari, who have mobility issues that prevent them from driving or taking OCTranspo,
-Without this assistance it would be impossible for them to attend these key religious and cultural events.
-Response from the seniors assisted was extremely positive.