Our story begins with a simple idea: to celebrate and stay connected to our Bengali heritage through community, culture, and shared traditions. What started as a group of friends gathering to honour their roots eventually blossomed into a vibrant cultural association.

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In 1973, members of the Bengali Hindu community in East London came together to celebrate Saraswati Puja at Stratford Town Hall. The event, organised with care and enthusiasm by Mr Hiranmoy Bhattacharya, was a great success and warmly received by the local community.

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Encouraged by this response, the celebration of Saraswati Puja became an annual tradition, hosted at various venues across the area. Then, in 1975, Mr Jogen Misra and his peers organised the first-ever Durga Puja at the Hindu Temple on Cedars Road, Stratford — another significant milestone.

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At the time, there was no formal structure behind these efforts. Everything was driven by the passion and dedication of a few individuals, with meetings held ad hoc and donations collected door-to-door.

In 1978, thanks to the support of barrister Mira Chatterjee, a well-wisher of the group, the Bengali Cultural Association was formally established. She drafted the constitution, and BCA was officially registered as a UK charity (registration number 278295), marking the beginning of a more organised and enduring chapter in our journey.