The 2026 Durga Puja festivities came to a triumphant end at the Supermarine Sports Club.
The annual festival honours Goddess Durga and celebrates her victory over a fearsome demon.
The Supermarine celebrations were organised by local charity SHAROD (Swindon Holistic Association for Religious and Optimistic Development), which promotes Bengali cultural heritage in Swindon.
They concluded with an evening of devotion, music and dance, followed by a celebration meal.
The Swindon Bengal Cultural Society, which hosted celebratory Durga Puja events in the heart of the town centre, served over 6,000 free meals with the help of some 200 volunteers.
SHAROD Chair Arindam Roy Chowdhury said: "This is more than a religious festival; it's basically a multicultural celebration and we're trying to promote cultural cohesions.
"Everybody, irrespective of caste, creed or religion are all invited to this - and they have come.
"Over the last three or four days we have been feeding people, they have been coming and enjoying, and there has been an average of, I would say 250 people per day.
"We are very proud as SHAROD that we have been able to do this over a period of 10 years."
The charity is active throughout the year, and its work in Swindon ranges from raising funds to help tackle the effects of disasters to visiting care homes at Christmas.
SHAROD Treasurer Pritimoy Podder said: "We have been celebrating it here in Swindon since 2017.
"It is one of the largest among all the Hindu celebrations that we do, but especially people from West Bengal and Bangladesh - that part of the world.
"Every year the community comes together and, especially in Swindon, it's not just about Bengal; it's about all the communities coming together and celebrating it.
"It's religious for us. We worship Goddess Durga - above all it's a festival we cherish in our heart and we try to include everyone."
Marking a decade of bringing people together through culture, faith and community engagement, SHAROD Durga Puja set out to provide four days of devotion, traditional celebrations, cultural entertainment and opportunities for families and friends to connect.
The organisers invited people from Swindon and the surrounding areas to join the festivities and experience the warmth, colour and spirit of one of the most significant celebrations in the Bengali cultural calendar.
Anybody who wishes to know more about the charity and its year-round work is invited to visit sharod.co.uk
A spokesperson for the Swindon Bengali Cultural Society, which hosted Durga Puja events from Friday 16 October to Tuesday 20 October at Venue 3 in Regent Street, said: “Our Durga Puja is not just a religious festival. It is a celebration of love, unity, humanity, culture, friendship and togetherness.
"We are incredibly proud that our second annual celebration brought so many people together from Swindon, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and beyond.
"The success of this five-day festival would never have been possible without our more than 200 extraordinary volunteers, who worked tirelessly across every aspect of the celebrations, alongside our generous sponsors, talented performers, dedicated chefs and the overwhelming support of our wonderful community.
"Serving over 6,000 free meals was another remarkable achievement, reflecting our commitment to ensuring that everyone could enjoy the blessings and hospitality of Durga Puja.
"We are particularly grateful to the local councillors, religious dignitaries, community leaders, social activists, cultural organisations, social organisations and voluntary groups who stood alongside us and supported this remarkable celebration.
"Our heartfelt thanks go to all our volunteers, especially the women, young people and families who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Their dedication, sacrifice and selfless service are the true foundation of our success.
"Our vision is simple: everyone is welcome, everyone should feel included, and nobody should leave without experiencing the joy, blessings and hospitality of Durga Puja.
"We are especially proud of our children and young performers, who represent the future of our culture and traditions.
"As we bid farewell to Maa Durga, we do so with gratitude in our hearts and a promise to return next year with an even bigger and more memorable celebration.”
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