23 hrs ago
Manchester Durga Puja Adds AI Tools to Preserve Tradition
A Bengali community group in Manchester is preparing to celebrate Durga Puja in October 2026.
The festival will take place at Gandhi Hall in Withington.
The group has added an AI helper on WhatsApp to make it easier to share information and manage events.
It has also introduced digital tools for membership, attendance, and donations.
A new video project called Khoj shares stories about Bengali culture and everyday life.
The group says its social media videos have reached many people.
It is also working with another local Hindu organisation.
The group hopes technology will help more people connect with its traditions, not replace them.
The Greater Manchester Bengali Hindu Cultural Association will hold Durga Puja from October 16 to 20, 2026, at Gandhi Hall in Withington.
The association has introduced an AI-powered WhatsApp assistant, automated membership identification, improved RSVP and attendance tracking, and digital donation receipts.
Its new platform, Khoj, uses short-form videos to share Bengali culture, traditions, food, festivals, history, and contemporary life.
GMBHCA says its social media channels have generated nearly 60,000 views, with almost half of engagement coming from Reels.
The association has partnered with Radha Krishna Mandir HRS and says the festival draws international students and Mancunians from diverse backgrounds.
- Who
- The Greater Manchester Bengali Hindu Cultural Association (GMBHCA), its members, and festival visitors.
- What
- GMBHCA is introducing AI and digital tools while continuing its Durga Puja celebrations and cultural outreach.
- Where
- Gandhi Hall, Withington, Manchester.
- When
- The 2026 Durga Puja is scheduled for Friday, October 16, to Tuesday, October 20.
- Why
- The association says the tools are intended to improve efficiency and transparency, help members stay involved, and share Bengali culture with younger audiences and others.
Key facts
- Festival dates
- October 16–20, 2026
- Festival venue
- Gandhi Hall, Withington
- Association founded
- 1993
- Membership
- More than 300 member families
- Digital assistant
- AI-based assistant on WhatsApp
- Culture platform
- Khoj – Exploring Culture, Connecting Communities
- Reported social media views
- Nearly 60,000
Quotes
Greater Manchester Bengali Hindu Cultural Association
The organisation hosting Manchester’s Durga Puja and describing its mascot iKaku.
“iKaku does not ask whether tradition and modernity can coexist. He simply lives in both at once - and invites everyone else to do the same.”
easterneye.biz
Sources
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