Saptarang Cultural Society will host the first Durga Puja in Canada to bring the North East Indian community together under a single platform. The three-day celebration runs October 16 to 18 in Delta, British Columbia.
VANCOUVER, Canada — This October, the sound of the dhak will carry across Sunbury Hall in Delta as Saptarang Cultural Society hosts its first Durga Puja. The three-day celebration, from Shashthi on October 16 to Vijaya Dashami on October 18, marks a milestone for the North East Indian community in Metro Vancouver.
Durga Puja is celebrated across Canada, but until now there has been no Puja that brings together families from all of India’s North Eastern states under one banner. Saptarang aims to change that. The organizers call it “our first Durga Puja as a united community.” For families from Assam, Tripura, Manipur and the wider North East, the Puja has long meant homecoming, food and gathering. In Vancouver, many have celebrated it in small private groups, or not at all.
“A piece of home, built together”
For Indrajit Guha, Founding President of Saptarang Cultural Society, this Durga Puja shows how far the community has come in a short time.
“When we started Saptarang, the idea was simple. We wanted our children to grow up knowing the songs, the food and the festivals we grew up with,” Guha said. “Durga Puja is the festival that brings everyone home. Hosting it here, as one North East community, is a moment many of us have waited years for.”
He credited the volunteers and supporters behind the society’s first year. “None of this belongs to one person. It was built by volunteers who gave their weekends, local businesses who believed in us, and families who kept showing up. This Puja belongs to all of them.”
A first year of firsts
Saptarang Cultural Society was incorporated in British Columbia, Canada. Its purpose is to promote and preserve the traditions, languages and arts of India’s North Eastern states. It also aims to build a platform that connects North East communities with business and trade opportunities in Canada and India. Its first year has moved quickly:
- Saraswati Puja (January 24, 2026): the society’s first cultural celebration, with more than 80 attendees.
- Women’s Day (March 14, 2026): an event celebrating women’s achievements in the community, with more than 100 attendees.
- North East India Fest (May 30, 2026, Delta): the first festival of its kind in Canada, celebrating the heritage of all of India’s North Eastern states under one roof and drawing more than 550 people.
The society has also built a network of volunteer cultural leads representing the eight states of North East India, plus youth mentors who involve the next generation.
“Every event has grown, and every event has brought new families to us,” Guha said. “The North East is many cultures, many languages and many traditions. Saptarang is a place where all of them can stand together.”
“Whether you are from the North East, from anywhere in India, or simply curious, you are welcome,” Guha said. “Come for the aarti, stay for the bhog, and leave as part of the family.”
Event details
| What | Saptarang Durga Puja 2026 |
| When | October 16–18, 2026 (Friday to Sunday) |
| Where | Sunbury Hall, 10409 Dunlop Rd, Delta, BC V4C 2L1 |
| Admission | Free; registration required |
| Register and details | saptarang.ca/all-events/durga-puja |
Saptarang Cultural Society is a Metro Vancouver non-profit formed by the North East Indian community to celebrate, preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the region. Learn more at saptarang.ca.
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