Houston Durga Bari Society — Attraction in Sugar Land

It was my first time going to Houston Durga Bari to celebrate Durga Puja. I must say what an awesome experience I have had! It may not be perfect, but definitely well organized. The puja performed by the priest (Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee) was awesome as usual. I had seen him perform before in another state and therefore I knew him. I loved the kids' programs at the auditorium. Felt like throwing a pizza party for the kids. I still do. Their parents must be proud for having such kids who devoted themselves to cherish their parents' culture and make it their own. And then the Dhunichi nach (dance)! Wow! Everyone gave their 100% to dance with the 'fired up dhunichi' if we could call that. Love to all the kids. There were water coolers if you got thirsty. I think they also had tea and coffee for us. So, if everything was 'good' why three stars? Why not five stars? Well, I went on Sunday, 23rd Oct. instead of Friday evening, Oct. 21st. When I asked a volunteer about my badge, I was directed to a tent where a person was supposed to be with the badges. No one was there. Someone told me he went home and he would come back. He never came back and I was about to leave. Luckily, someone told me that I could stay and enjoy the puja, but not eat their prasad. I was fine with that. I don't eat mutton anyway. I understood that they had a special dinner arrangement on Sunday. I'm not upset for the food. If I wanted/needed some prasad and/or food I could ask the 'Durga' in the temple. There are two Durgas in the temple and one talks. She could give me some food. However, I was stressed out when I thought I would have to leave because of the badge. My sincere request to the puja organizers to arrange for the badges such a way so anyone could get their badge at any time. I didn't get any email regarding the badge or anything else. Please have someone at all time with the badges. One has the right to go home, but not with the badges of course. Have backups. I'm sure any senior person would love to volunteer. I would. Sorry to give three stars, but this is the only way to get attention. Thank you for organizing such a wonderful event. Hope to come again next year. (If possible, please give my badge to the priest. I'll collect it from him when I go to watch the...

Location is good and quiet but the priest is very racist and only gives flowers or blessings based on the clothes you wear/his own race. In front of you, he gives flowers/prasad to their own race but not to other race(though Indian). He offers costly prasad(according to him badam, cashews, sweets) to those who donate money and not to the regular devotees. When I raised my hands(regular devotee) for the "costly" prasad he asked me to take prasad from another corner of the room which had some fruits. I am ok with it because I consider it still as the same costly prasad. But it can turn out to be a disgusting feeling to others, wish he is in the same position and somebody offers the beside person water and not to him (though dying) when both desperately need water. All humans are alike and nobody is great in front of GOD. In our Indian community we treat priest as semi-god but looking at him he is not even fit to be called as human. Temple authorities please remove him ASAP. Probably that is why there is hardly anybody visiting the temple even in the weekends. People come with lots of expectations to the temple to receive blessings from the temple, but unfortunately turn out depressed because of his behavior and if they see the other person getting blessings excluding him, there are chances that they may take it as a negative sign and go into depression because of his inhumane nature. Such people are not fit to live, should be left in Amazon forests practicing their old mentality rituals, should be thrown out of the country. Ruthless people! Request temple authorities to take an immediate...

This was my first Durga Pujo outside my country in the USA. And the very first taste of it was awesome. I was awestruck by the sheer crowd of Probashi Bengalis in this faraway land.

To begin with, I thought my Pujo would be the worst ever but it wasn't even half as bad as I expected it to be. Houston Durga Bari Society was a surreal experience. Let's point out the positives:

Extremely polite and warm behavior and hospitality by the managing authorities.

Extremely well organised event.

Reasonable charges keeping in mind the expenses of conducting such an event abroad.

Soothing and beautiful location.

Delicious Food.

Extremely religious and comforting atmosphere.

At home feel.

And as far as charges are concerned, find below the details:

Adult Lunch for single time - $15 Kids Lunch for single time - $10 Adult Dinner for a single time - $20 Kids Dinner for a single time - $15 Pujo package (2 adults + 1 kid) for 3 entire days - $180 (which includes 2 times food for 3 days for all 3 heads, and access to all cultural events)

There was paid parking also for parking inside the property.

Apart from that there was vivid transportation arrangement for all guests between the Durga Bari and the West Oak Mall, Houston.

I look forward to being a part of this festival in 2023 without any...