University of Newcastle Becomes First Australian University to Host Durga Puja, Organisers Claim

OTN Bangla, Newcastle:
Just five days before the celebration, the Durga idol had yet to arrive in Newcastle. A priest, traditional dhaak drums and essential worship materials were still to be arranged. Then the organisers faced another challenge: finding a replacement venue.

Despite the uncertainty, a team from the Bangladesh Student Association Newcastle University pressed ahead. On 24 October 2026, their efforts culminated in a Sharodiya Durga Puja celebration at the Engineering Administration Building on the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus.

Flower offerings, dhaak rhythms, dhunuchi dance and cultural performances brought the gathering to life. Organisers reported approximately 120 registrations, with people from different countries joining the celebration.

According to the organising team, it was the first Sharodiya Durga Puja held on the university’s campus and, to their knowledge, the first such celebration in Newcastle.

For those behind it, the occasion represented weeks of uncertainty, shared responsibility and determination to create a place for their traditions away from home.

“Newcastle’s first Sharodiya Durga Puja was more than just an event for us. It was a dream, a responsibility and a determination to create a new chapter in history. Every step of this journey carries the story of our struggles, our setbacks, our efforts and our faith in one another.”

A dream takes shape

The initiative began with association president Gzelle Kabir. A team of students then took on the task of turning the idea into a celebration, with less than three weeks available.

The preparations involved securing a venue, obtaining an idol, arranging a priest and worship materials, organising food, decorating the space and coordinating volunteers and cultural performances. Each task had to be completed alongside the others, leaving little room for delays.

Organisers said some early requests for assistance did not bring the support they had hoped for. As the date approached, several essential arrangements remained uncertain. Team members continued sharing responsibilities and looking for practical solutions.

A race against time

One of the most pressing concerns was obtaining the Durga idol. With only five days remaining, members of the team undertook a four-to-five-hour journey to bring it to Newcastle.

Its arrival gave the organisers renewed confidence, although much remained unfinished.

Four days before the event, they contacted people in Sydney for help arranging a priest, dhaak drums and worship supplies. Supporters responded at short notice, travelling to Newcastle with the priest and the necessary items.

The organising team described that assistance as crucial to completing the religious arrangements.

A venue change added further pressure. The celebration could no longer proceed in the originally planned Brennan Room, requiring the team to find another location and adapt its decorations and event arrangements. Some important details were still being finalised two days before the gathering.

Throughout the preparations, individual contributions helped keep the plans moving.

The people behind the celebration

Ishraq Rahman assisted with logistics and made his car available for transport. Subah Saiyera worked on publicity from the early stages and helped with the final decorations. Sebastian, an Australian friend of the team, took responsibility for setting up the projector.

Ahmed Vaashani contributed guitar music to the cultural programme. Diptesh Debnath, who had recently joined the group, helped with preparations and performed Rabindra Sangeet, adding the songs of Rabindranath Tagore to the celebration.

Roshani Rauuniyar, a Nepali supporter, used her contacts to help resolve a difficult situation. Abid and other volunteers and well-wishers also contributed their time and assistance.

Organisers emphasised that the achievement belonged to everyone involved. While the president initiated the celebration, they said its success depended on the efforts of the entire team and the people who stepped forward to help.

Sharing culture, building connections

Alongside religious observance, the event offered an opportunity to share Bengali culture with friends from other backgrounds. For students living away from their families, it also created a familiar setting in which to gather, celebrate and connect.

The involvement of Australian and Nepali friends reflected the wider community spirit surrounding the initiative. People with different cultural backgrounds contributed to an occasion rooted in Bengali tradition.

Following the celebration, organisers said they received enquiries from people interested in how the event had come together and how they could participate in future years.

They hope to begin preparations earlier next time, drawing on the experience and relationships built during this first attempt.

For the student team, the memories extend beyond the finished celebration: the journey to collect the idol, the calls to Sydney, the search for a venue and the work completed in the final days.

On 24 October, those efforts gave way to worship, music and a shared celebration. Organisers now hope the gathering will become a lasting Sharodiya tradition in Newcastle.