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India’s Durga Puja, where worship meets social change

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Category: English Media

Published: Saturday, 04 October 2025 12:02

Written by Eager

By Anshu Sharma and Rohit Upadhyay

India’s eastern state of Bengal transformed this week into the world’s largest public art festival - an immersive blend of worship, artistic expression, and social messaging, thanks to an annual Hindu festival known as Durga Puja.

Inscribed by the UN cultural agency, UNESCO, in 2021 as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Durga Puja isn’t just a festival, it’s a city-wide act of reimagination, one that resonates with the Bengali diaspora and others around the world.

For a few autumn nights, the city of Kolkata (and other parts of West Bengal) became an open-air gallery where local communities build dazzling temporary temples or pandals, artisans from Kumartoli sculpt the goddess from river clay, drummers (dhaakis) roll thunder through the streets, and millions wander from one illuminated dreamscape to the next.

The festivities drew to a close on Thursday.

© UN News/Rohit Upadhyay Festival goers visit a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata.

 

What looks like a spectacle is actually a community in motion: local clubs raising funds, families volunteering, craftspeople collaborating, and entire local economies springing to life around food, lights, music, and art.

Families map their “pandal-hopping” routes, musicians set the rhythm, food stalls weave the city together, and the city itself becomes a stage. All kinds of divisions – class, caste, ethnicity – in this city of teeming millions, melt away.

UNESCO recognition

UNESCO recognised the Durga Puja, named after the Hindu goddess Durga, in 2021 describing it as “the best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and a thriving ground for collaborative artists and designers.”

As Tim Curtis, UNESCO Representative in India, explained, “It embodies the Sarbojonin spirit - ‘for all people’ - that has defined community worship since 1926. From clay sculptors to drummers, designers to local organizers, the entire city contributes to one of the most vibrant cultural expressions in the world.”

This is heritage not locked away in monuments but alive in practice, passed hand-to-hand through craftsmanship, reimagined every year with new themes, and binding communities across class, faith, and language.

Durga Puja is also a creative economy powerhouse. A 2019 study estimated the festival’s industries generate $4.53 billion, 2.58 per cent of West Bengal’s GDP. Art with a message

For Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, this year marked his first visit to the century-old pandal now spotlighting sustainable agriculture, highlighting the broader importance of the Sustainable Development Goals.

© UN News/Rohit upadyay UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp visits a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, India.

 

He told UN News, “Normally you see Goddess Durga defeating evil – here the ‘evil’ is pesticides and unsustainable farming practices. Behind me stands a display with 280 rice varieties from eastern and northeastern India. That’s 12-13 million visitors being exposed to powerful messages about organic agriculture, biodiversity, and sustainability.”

Another headline-grabber is an AI-themed pandal that fuses devotion with digital imagination. Goddess Durga appears in her traditional form - ten arms and a lion – while the backdrop bursts with circuit-board patterns, glowing data streams, and neon light.

The point is clear: faith and technology can co-exist; even in a futuristic frame.

Visitor reactions mirror this blend of wonder and caution. One 30-year-old lab technician from Kolkata, Nupur Hajara said “the more positively people receive AI, the better. If they take it negatively, that won’t help – right?”

© UN News/Rohit Upadhyay Figurines made with electronic waste material are displayed in a pandal or temple.

 

IT professional, Sumitam Shom explained: “Durga Puja is our biggest, most special festival - and now AI is part of the conversation. It can do a lot of good, but there are risks too, especially fraud. Deepfakes and viral images are real concerns. Without safeguards, someone could misuse photos and deceive people. So, it’s crucial that we use these technologies responsibly.”

Adding a different register of urgency, another pandal with the theme of “Shabdo” (“Sound”) draws attention for its poignant focus on the vanishing sounds of nature – chirping birds, rustling leaves, croaking frogs – captured through immersive, sensory design.

A meditation on nostalgia

It was a meditation on environmental loss and nostalgia, asking what it means for the sounds of nature within a city to grow quieter as habitats shrink.

Raja, a pandal visitor, put it simply: “You barely see birds anymore. My grandfather used to tell me how common they were; now they’re rare - partly, we believe, due to mobile network impacts. This pandal is our way to wake up the community, to learn how to bring the birds back and to start working on it together.”

Many other pandals also echo urgent social themes. One honours acid attack survivors, not only raising awareness but celebrating their dignity and contributions. Another highlights water conservation.

© UN News/Rohit Upadhyay A Puja pandal explores the theme of the vanishing sounds of birds in urban areas.

 

For young visitors too, the messages resonate. Tisa, an 18-year-old student at a pandal dedicated to water conservation, reflected that “groundwater is depleting day by day. This is the best way to spread awareness to the public.”

Making Puja accessible to all

Durga Puja is also taking a step toward inclusivity.

In June 2025, UNESCO and the UN in India, working with organizations of persons with disabilities, launched comprehensive accessibility guidelines for festival organisers.

The results are visible on the ground. Ramps and barrier-free layouts ease mobility, Braille signage and sign-language interpreters expand communication, and quiet seating areas provide allow people to rest.

As the UN’s Shombi Sharp recalled, “We heard from a father who, for the first time in 17 years, was able to bring his daughter, a wheelchair user, to celebrate Durga Puja. That was an incredibly emotional moment.”

The “Football for Peace”Organization’s Outstanding Contribution to World Peace

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Category: English Media

Published: Wednesday, 01 October 2025 17:33

Written by Eager

Celebrity Media TCommentator: The Unique Power of Sports Diplomacy：Football, the world’s most influential sport, has long been regarded as a “universal language.” It transcends cultural, linguistic, and political barriers, serving as a bridge for building trust and fostering unity. As highlighted in remarks at the United Nations, football touches more than five billion people globally. Its passion and sense of togetherness go far beyond competition on the pitch.

The Football for Peace organization is founded on this unique value. It treats football not merely as a game but as a powerful social force—an instrument for identity, solidarity, and peacebuilding across nations and communities.

From Personal Experience to Global Initiative：The organization’s leader Kash Siddiqi recalled how his mother was forced to flee her homeland decades ago due to conflict, and how football gave him a platform to re-engage with society. This personal experience infused Football for Peace with a deeper humanitarian mission.

Beginning its journey at the United Nations twenty years ago, the organization has since built strong partnerships, particularly with the African Union. Through such collaborations, football has evolved into an effective medium for promoting peace, strengthening communities, and improving lives across the African continent.

Education and Peace: A New Model of Cooperation:The partnership between Football for Peace and the American University’s School of International Service (SIS) has brought an educational perspective to this global initiative. As the school’s dean emphasized: “Peace is not merely the absence of war, but the result of daily actions that positively shape human development.”

Through this collaboration, football ignites passion not only on the field but also within classrooms and communities. Youth are mobilized as “Peace Ambassadors” in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, carrying out tangible initiatives. This model demonstrates how sports, education, and public diplomacy can work together to promote sustainable peace.

"Peace Begins at Our Feet" As Robert Skinner, an official from the United Nations Department of Global Communications, said: "No human activity reaches more people than football — 3.5 billion follow it, and it may well lead them toward unity."

The 2026 World Cup: A Positive Signal: It is worth noting that U.S. President Donald Trump recently voiced strong support for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. He announced that the tournament’s draw ceremony will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and underscored America’s commitment to ensuring the event’s safety and success.

In his remarks, President Trump emphasized that the World Cup should be a stage where fans and players from across the globe come together to share passion, build understanding, and strengthen friendships. This positive message provides a powerful real-world backdrop for the vision of Football for Peace. As one of the world’s largest sporting events, the 2026 World Cup presents an unparalleled opportunity to showcase unity, inclusiveness, and dialogue.

Building Unity, Promoting Cooperation:At a time when international relations are increasingly complex, the “soft power” demonstrated by Football for Peace is especially important. It shows that sports can unify societies and serve as a diplomatic bridge. Across Africa and the broader international community, football has proven to be more than just a game—it is a practical tool for advancing peace and understanding.

When this vision aligns with the forthcoming 2026 World Cup, football offers humanity an unprecedented opportunity for global solidarity and cooperation.

Football for Peace Global was established in 2013. Siddiqi was moved by the great work of FIFA and Chilean legend Elias Figueroa and Steve Leighton through Fubol Por Laz Paz in the Americas and inspired by his mother’s journey from East Africa to Great Britain during the reign of President of Uganda Idi Amin. His mother Shamim, facing hardship during the conflict and her own struggle motivated Kashif to bring the Football for Peace initiative on the spirit of what had been achieved in the Americas, to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East.

The work of the Football for Peace organization reminds the international community that:

• Peace is realized through concrete actions, not abstract ideals;
• Sports serve as a unique diplomatic tool that transcends borders;
• True peacebuilding often begins at the grassroots level, led by communities and youth.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the world anticipates not only a sporting spectacle but also a cultural and peace-centered celebration. Together with partners around the world, Football for Peace is helping to ensure that football becomes a driving force for global unity and a cornerstone for lasting peace.

Chief Spokesman of the United Nations Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric's Interview with TRT World at the 80th UN General Assembly

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Category: English Media

Published: Friday, 03 October 2025 10:07

Written by Eager

Celebrity Media Editor’s Note: In this exclusive conversation, the interview with Stéphane Dujarric, Chief Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, reveals two key messages:

On one hand, the UN is facing unprecedented challenges — an outdated power structure, restricted funding, and escalating conflicts that make its actions appear constrained.
On the other hand, the UN still carries the unique expectation of the international community — it remains an irreplaceable stage in global governance, the final line of defense for humanitarian aid, climate action, and peace mediation.

Dujarric’s responses, though devoid of ornate rhetoric, conveyed what feels like the UN’s own “confession”: it may not be perfect, and often appears powerless, yet it continues to strive to stand firm at the center of the storm. As he said, “We need a better United Nations.” This is not only the Secretary-General’s appeal, but also the shared demand of humanity in an era of turmoil.

UN President of the General Assembly Closes United Nations General Debate, 80th Session

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Category: English Media

Published: Monday, 29 September 2025 17:07

Written by Eager

CelebrityMedia Editor’s Note： As the 80th United Nations General Assembly general debate concluded, the President delivered closing remarks underscoring the UN’s indispensable role at a global crossroads.

The address highlighted key themes—peace and security (Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan), accelerating action on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals, gender equality, and the governance of artificial intelligence.

The President urged member states to turn the political momentum of this Assembly into concrete action: advancing immediate humanitarian measures and the two-state solution, pushing forward climate and development finance reform, and supporting the UN80 reform agenda. He emphasized that only by upholding the Charter, international law, and working in unity can humanity shape a safer, fairer, and more sustainable future.

We've heard the last speaker in the general debate. I will now deliver my closing remarks.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, at the beginning of this week, we referred to the United Nations as the house of diplomacy and dialogue, standing at a crossroads, a place where we gather to have hard conversations during challenging times. If this high level week is an indication, this house is fulfilling that purpose. The United Nations is still relevant.

Over the past week, we have heard from 189 member states, including 124 heads of state and government. I thank you for your proactive leadership, for embracing diplomacy, for not shying away from the hard topics, for proving why our United Nations remains critical, especially facing a crossroads.

I would like to thank the host country, the United States, for their continued and generous support, reminding that the host country agreement obliges to give access to all delegations, as otherwise the House of Diplomacy would not work. I express my deep gratitude to the city of New York, particularly the NYPD, as well as colleagues across the UN secretariat for making the high level week possible. Finally, I thank my OPGA team led by my chef cabinet for their tireless dedication, their countless briefing notes and for being my ears and eyes throughout this high level week.

Across the week, certain themes resonated above all others. Chief among them, peace and security. Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and the many forgotten ones. The clear message was member states must do more to protect and feed starving civilians in Gaza, to return peace to Ukraine, to protect women and girls in Sudan. This organization is only as strong as our collective will to uphold the principles of our charter and international law. And when we do, progress follows.

Monday's high level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine demonstrated clearly that what happens in this hall matters. The conference, coupled with the New York declaration, showed diplomatic movement on an issue long considered immovable. But while we are gaining traction politically, on the ground the situation remains catastrophic and unacceptable.

We should not delude ourselves. The real test now is whether the momentum generated here can be translated into tangible short-term measures in and for Gaza—an immediate ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid for civilians, the immediate release of the remaining hostages—and lay the foundation for a peaceful long-term perspective: the realization of the two-state solution. The only way to achieve lasting peace, security, and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The charter is not only a blueprint for peace, it's also a vision for shared progress across every pillar. Dozens of delegations spoke on the impacts of climate change and the ticking clock we face in delivering on the sustainable development goals by 2030. That clock does not stop while we are here in this room.

I don't know if you were in the hall, but as the prime minister of the Bahamas was delivering his remarks here, his country back home was bracing for the landfall of a cyclone. It's happening now. Climate crisis won't stop if you deny it. The climate crisis is the biggest security threat in this century. We face it together or we suffer alone. Conversely, if we work together to tackle climate change, we can capitalize on the benefits all together.

Last year alone, investment in renewable energy amounted to two trillion US dollars. So, as you can see, there are also positive tipping points. Looking at the amount invested in renewable energy, there's no way back as no investor wants stranded investments. And thus I commend member states who joined the UN climate summit and pledged stronger, more ambitious climate targets in the light of COP 30 in BM.

However, we are still not as far as we need to be and financing is the clear obstacle. Financial reform was mentioned repeatedly throughout the general debate and discussed in detail during the first biannual summit for a sustainable, inclusive and resilient global economy. The commitment made in 2015, repeated last year in the pact for the future, must be met.

To build resilience for countries facing ruinous climate consequences, we need to unlock financing. The technology is there. The need is there. We now have to match it. And make no mistake, this is not charity. Addressing these borderless challenges and financing sustainable development is an investment in our collective future. Investing into green technologies and fighting the climate crisis is our best security protection.

Excellencies, I would also like to take this opportunity to commend delegations for engaging in sometimes challenging discussions around SDG-related issues, including the high level meeting on non-communicable diseases and mental health, the 30th anniversary of the world program of action on youth, and the global dialogue on artificial intelligence.

The discussion on AI in particular lent only further precedence to the argument that we are better together. Few of us would be comfortable leaving the benefits or risks of this immense resource in the hands of a few. The opportunities are vast—as we discussed all together—from farmers accessing plans for resilient seeds, to city planning, to disaster risk management. AI is a tool that must be harnessed for all of humankind, equally, in a controlled manner.

This last point bears repeating, as the risks of AI are becoming only more prevalent, and age-old biases are being perpetuated by algorithms, as you can see for example when 99% of sexually related deep fakes are targeting women and girls. Yet, as we also heard and saw on Monday’s celebration of 30 years since Beijing, when female leaders spoke one after the other, there’s power in joining forces, in taking the right course at the crossroads and doing the right thing.

So many strong female presidents, many the first of their country, all reminded us that women’s rights are the yardstick of freedom of a society. If women are not free, eventually no one will be free. But the opposite is also true. If women are free, finally everyone will be free. If women are not represented equally or participate equally in societies, economies perform worse. Some estimates note that closing the gender gap would add 7 trillion to the global GDP. And a few words drew applause from this audience as often as that of the mention of a future possible Madame Secretary-General.

Excellencies, throughout the week, there were moments of energy, even electricity, where we really felt the collective will to do better, to reach further, to choose the right path at the crossroads. It's an energy that reminds us that this institution indeed matters. That we need it more than ever. An energy that also proclaims now is the time to grow and change.

Colleagues, this is an energy, a moment in time that we need to grab and run with. And the conditions are there. Indeed, UN80 and the reform agenda was, as I say, the hot topic throughout the week. The Secretary-General's report on mandate implementation review, the revised budget, and his proposals for structural changes and programmatic realignments offer us a concrete pathway to make this institution better, stronger, more effective, fit for purpose.

But this is not only about trimming budgets. It's about strengthening delivery. It is about priorities. For that reason, it is important that delegations take the discussions here back to their capitals. Discuss also back home in national parliaments how every government can constructively support and implement these processes in a way that makes this institution work better, deliver better, for all of us, but especially for those who still look to the streaming blue flag as a sign of hope even in the darkest hours.

For those who have the benefit of living in peace and social security. And as recent surveys showed, even in spite of all global narratives, people still value the benefits and necessities of the UN. On this point, I would like to thank the many delegations who responded to my call for a positive reflection on the UN's 80th anniversary.

We have heard dozens of statements infused with this dream of better together—of countries who freed themselves from colonialism to join as an independent state in the family of nations; of countries like my own who reunified because of the international community; of countries who sought support from the UN for mediation, for peacekeeping, for democratic reform and relief. Even if we have not always succeeded, we have always tried.

Excellencies, these examples highlight specifically why this organization was created—to tackle the problems no country alone can solve, to support others in their times of need. This week's general debate with strong engagements and impassioned words showed that we are capable of finding the strength to lift up our common leadership, to find collective solutions and to take the right path at the crossroads.

Let us go forward in this spirit, as also outlined in our just launched year-long campaign. Let us be inspired by the legacy of our past and daring for a better future. That is: better together, unafraid, unbroken, united.

I thank you.