Kolkata witnessed a significant international gathering on Monday as the second edition of the Bengal Global Connect Meet (BGCM), 2025, brought together a diverse group of Durga Puja organisers from across the globe. This initiative, fueled by the rising global fascination with Bengal and its festivals following UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage tag for Durga Puja, aimed to unlock new business avenues for the state's local artists and artisans.
Global Platform for Local Talent
The event, held at the Calcutta Rowing Club (CRC), saw participation from at least 25 puja committee representatives hailing from around 20 countries. Nations represented included Japan, Nigeria, Oman, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The meet was spearheaded by the organisations Heritage Bengal Global and The Global Connect.
Anirban Mukhopadhyay, president of Heritage Bengal Global, explained the core vision. He stated that the twin-concept meet was designed to provide global exposure to the skilled artisans who create magnificent puja pandals and intricate lighting displays. This effort is expected to help the widespread Bengali diaspora experience an authentic flavour of the festival in their adopted countries abroad.
Launch of BANI and Support for MSMEs
A key highlight of the meet was the launch of BANI, a business aggregator platform. This digital platform is specifically designed to channel investments from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and corporate leadership directly into West Bengal's business ecosystem. Mukhopadhyay emphasised that the primary aim is to give a significant boost to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by connecting them with a global market.
This initiative holds particular promise for the numerous pandal makers and traditional artisans, who predominantly fall under the MSME sector. The event also showcased success stories, such as that of entrepreneur Ashish Gupta. Gupta has successfully scaled his grandfather's traditional puja item shop by launching an online platform, pujadukaan.com, which now sells ritual items to Bengalis in the US, Canada, Japan, the UK, and Indonesia.
Overcoming Hurdles and Building Bridges
Local puja organisers from Kolkata also actively participated in the discussions. Committees like Ahiritola Jubak Brinda, Bhowanipore 75 Palli, Simla Bayam Samity, Hatibagan Sarbojanin Durgotsav, and Ballygunge Cultural Association joined the international delegates. Sohini Roy, working president of Simla Bayam Samity, pointed out that practical challenges, such as securing sponsorships for international collaborations, need to be addressed for sustained success.
The enthusiasm for taking Bengal's culture global was echoed by Chandan Roy Choudhury, secretary of the Calcutta Rowing Club. Having previously coordinated the successful Thames Durga Puja Parade, he praised BGCM as an excellent initiative that unites Bengalis worldwide to uphold their rich cultural heritage.
Sudip Roychoudhury, a member of the advisory committee, reinforced the mission, stating that the community is actively exploring all possible avenues to add a global dimension to the livelihoods of artisans linked to Durga Puja. This push comes on the heels of reports that the UNESCO recognition has already helped Bengal attract the second-highest influx of foreign tourists in India, underscoring the immense potential for cultural commerce.
