September 30, 2025

The magic of ‘Mahanayak’ Uttam Kumar will shine bright in London next week! This year marks 100 years since the birth of the beloved Bengali film star, and London Sharad Utsav (LSU) has made him their shining theme for the festival at Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub. Imagine walking into the puja pandal and seeing a dazzling ‘Wall of Fame’ showcasing posters from Uttam Kumar’s unforgettable movies like ‘Anthony Firingi’, ‘Marutirtha Hinglaj’, ‘Harano Sur’, ‘Chowringhee’, and ‘Nayak’. But that’s not all! Organizers have planned musical nights filled with his famous film songs, plus screenings of some of his classic movies during and after the puja. Kaushik Chatterjee, President of Bengal Heritage Foundation and LSU 2025 organizer, said, “Uttam Kumar remains in the hearts of Bengalis across the globe. This year, the celebration of his birth centenary has begun. He is also remembered by people like us who continue to admire him far away from Kolkata. So, we have decided to pay a tribute this unique actor with a 'Hall of Fame' decorated with posters of his films. Uttam will also be remembered through a musical evening. This is an initiative by the Bengal Heritage Foundation.” This grand event is a top highlight of the annual cultural festival celebrating Bengal in London. This year marks the 17th edition of the London Sharad Utsav. And what’s happening this year? Bright lights inspired by Chandannagar will glitter across the huge Gunnersbury Park sports space – a magnificent 10,000 square foot venue, the largest Durga Puja spot in Europe! “As soon as you enter, you will be dazzled by the lights of Chandannagar that will be spread across a hundred and fifty feet wall,” says the team. Food lovers, get ready! The ‘Pet Puja’ food park will bring Kolkata’s street food magic to London with Delhi-style chaat, spicy Indo-Chinese dishes, and sweet treats like rosogolla, jilipi, and paango, giving visitors a real feel of Kolkata streets. The sacred rituals won’t be missed either. Priests all the way from Kolkata will conduct the puja with traditional ceremonies like Nabapatrika Snan, Pushpanjali, Sandhi Puja, Kumari Puja, Hom, Chandipath, and the colorful Sindoor Khela. On the entertainment front, there will be cultural shows on stage including a special tribute concert to music legends SD and RD Burman. Expect dazzling dance, thunderous dhaki beats, fiery dhunuchi dance, singing contests, and the popular internationally awarded Sharadiya Parbani special edition. So, whether you are a huge Uttam Kumar fan, a Bengali abroad missing home, or simply love a grand celebration filled with flavors, colors, and music – London Sharad Utsav 2025 is the place to be!

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Tags: Uttam kumar, London sharad utsav, Bengali durga puja, Bengal heritage foundation, Bengali cinema, Cultural celebration,