Peterborough's fifth Durga Puja festival saved after appeal
The fifth annual Durga Puja festival in Peterborough looks to have been saved after a fund-raising appeal.
Organisers say that the annual Hindu celebration will still go ahead across the city but on a smaller scale than previous years.
The festival received a boost after the organisers secured the use of the Peterborough Cultural Centre in the Rivergate Centre off Bourges Boulevard.
The news follows an appeal spearheaded by Jonathan Jelley, chair of the Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service, and chair of the Paston, Gunthorpe and Welland Pride in Place board, who warned the event might not go ahead if £4,000 funding could not be raised to meet the £8,000 costs.
But in a new post, Mr Jelley announced: “We have saved Durga Puja but we are not quite finished yet.
He said: “I am absolutely delighted to share some good news following my recent appeal.
"Peterborough’s fifth annual Durga Puja celebration is going ahead on October 16.
He added: “Thanks to the determination of Anammika Ghosh Dastidar, the Bengali Sanskriti Club Peterborough/ The Culture Door CIC team and the wider community, a new, smaller venue has been secured at Peterborough Cultural Centre.
"That means Peterborough’s celebration of culture, heritage, music, dance, food and — most importantly — community will continue.”
However, Mr Jelley said that help in the form of donations was still needed.
A Gofundme page has been set up by the Bengali Sanskriti Club Peterborough to drive the fund raising appeal.
The appeal seeks to raise £4,000.
The appeal states: “The Bengali Sanskriti Club Peterborough is raising £4,000 to help make our fifth year Durga Puja 2026 celebrations possible.
"From October 16 to October 18 we will come together to celebrate Durga Puja — a special time of culture, tradition, music, dance, food, friendship and community.
"For our Bengali community, Durga Puja is a precious connection to our heritage and a time when generations come together.
"We also warmly welcome the wider Peterborough community to share in this wonderful celebration.
"Your donation will help us cover the essential costs of organising the three-day celebration and enable us to create a vibrant, welcoming and memorable event.
“Every donation makes a difference. £5, £10, £25 or £50 and takes us closer to our £4,000 target.”
The appeal can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-make-durga-puja-2026-happen?