Since 2018, UTSAB has brought the spirit of Durga Puja to Orpington — growing into the largest cultural festival of its kind in our area, and a home away from home for hundreds of Bengali and wider South Asian families across Bromley and beyond.

At the heart of every celebration has been one idol of Maa Durga, brought over from the artisans of Kolkata in our very first year. For over 8 years, we have lovingly reused our Durga Maa idol as part of our commitment to sustainability.

But after seven years of devotion, our idol is now nearing the end of her life. The clay and paintwork have visibly worn, with cracks appearing in places, and we're increasingly concerned about her structural condition — both for safe display and for the dignity she deserves as our murti. Traditional clay idols simply aren't built to last indefinitely, and ours has given us far more than we could have asked.

This is why we're asking our community — and everyone who believes in keeping traditions like this alive — to help us commission a new idol in time for Durga Puja 2027.

We want to bring over a new, handcrafted idol from the artisans of Kolkata, built with the same skill and devotion as the one that has served us so well. That means covering the cost of commissioning the idol itself, along with the international shipping and customs clearance required to bring her safely to Orpington.

Our target: £30,000

This covers:

Why this matters

UTSAB has never just been about one festival weekend. It's been about building a place where our children see their culture celebrated, where our elders find community, and where neighbours of every background are welcome to join in. A new idol means this can continue for another generation — not just for us, but for everyone who has come to see UTSAB as part of Orpington's own story.

How you can help

Every contribution, whatever the size, brings us closer to welcoming Maa Durga home in time for 2027. Whether you've celebrated with us before or you're hearing about UTSAB for the first time, we'd be grateful for your support — and for sharing this campaign with anyone who might want to be part of it.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

— The UTSAB Committee