KOLKATA: Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace in Oregon declared October Bengali Heritage and Cultural Month during the inauguration of the community’s first Durga Puja celebration in the city. The declaration aims to honour the heritage, language, arts, traditions and contributions of the Bengali community.PrayasPDX, which comprises more than 200 members and volunteers, held a three-day Durga Puja celebration from October 16 to 18.Srismrita Basu, president of PrayasPDX, said, “I feel immensely proud and honoured to see our community’s heritage officially recognised by the City of Hillsboro, Oregon. This proclamation declaring October as Bengali Heritage and Cultural Celebration Month is more than an achievement—it is a lasting recognition of our identity, traditions, and contributions to American society.”Bitan Chakraborty, a member and operations coordinator of PrayasPDX, said, “It sets a powerful example for South Asian, specifically Bengalis of Indian origin, visibility across the United States.”
