Celebrating Bengal’s cultural heritage on an international platform, a textile idol of Goddess Durga created by students of Techno India Group has once again sailed across the River Thames during the fifth annual Lalbaba Rice Durga Parade in London. Organised by Heritage Bengal Global (HBG), the celebration brought together hundreds of British Bengalis to mark the spirit of Durga Puja against the backdrop of the city’s iconic landmarks.
Originally crafted in 2024 through the collective efforts of students from Techno India Group’s schools, colleges and university, the magnificent textile idol returned to the Thames for the 2026 edition of the parade. Created by students of Techno India University, the idol represents the creativity, craftsmanship and cultural expression of young talents from Bengal. Its return to the international stage marks a proud moment for the institution and highlights how student-led artistic initiatives can transcend geographical boundaries.
During the parade, the decorated idol sailed past some of London’s most recognisable landmarks, including Big Ben, the Tower of London and the London Eye. The celebration featured traditional dhak performances, music and dance, bringing the vibrant atmosphere of Kolkata’s Durga Puja celebrations to the heart of the British capital.
Members of the British Bengali community also participated in musical and cultural performances aboard the boat. Among the performers were the father-daughter duo Krishnendu and Gungun, who gained attention through a viral social media trend. Their performance added to the festive spirit of the occasion.
Launched in 2022, the annual parade is organised by Heritage Bengal Global, a non-profit organisation representing the British Bengali diaspora. The initiative aims to bring Durga Puja celebrations from different parts of the world together while promoting the festival as an international cultural attraction. It also seeks to give greater visibility to UNESCO’s recognition of Durga Puja as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
HBG Director Anirban Mukhopadhyay highlighted the organisation’s vision of promoting Kolkata and Durga Puja as global tourism attractions, while making the significance of the UNESCO recognition more tangible through international celebrations.
For Techno India Group, the return of its students’ creation to the River Thames is more than a cultural showcase. It reflects the power of education to encourage creativity, preserve artistic traditions and provide students with opportunities to present their work on a global platform.
Created by Bengal’s young talents and celebrated across continents, the Durga idol continues to carry the artistic spirit and cultural identity of Bengal to the world.