New clothes on Durga Panchami is an ancient tradition of Bengal forgotten by most Bengali people ridden with poverty and ignorance by the elite, educated class. This Navaratri, on the Durga Panchami day (October 19), Dharmansh USA team distributed clothes to 517 poor people in Purba Bardhman District, West Bengal.

This event was conducted at 7 separate locations throughout the district:
1. Namo Junction
2. Talit
3. Tiringa
4. Shikarpur
5. Jujutia
6. Galsi Bamunpara and
7. Galsi Bazar.

This arrangement was nor a general mass distribution of clothes but carefully done custom work where clothes were pre-measured and custom-made for each of the 517 individuals. Extra care was taken to ensure that the recipients were given age-specific and culturally appropriate items so they could feel good about wearing them and use them with pride. White sarees to our widowed mothers and sisters, colorful sarees, blouses & petticoats to married women, Kurtis & leggings to our unmarried sisters, shirt & pants to our brothers and elders, and kids-wear for children were distributed.

All seven events were a grand success where communities came together.

People were really appreciative and we are grateful to our Mata, Bhagavati Durga for all the blessings. We felt that we were the instruments through which she blessed these unfortunate souls.

These poor, unfortunate people and their families had forgotten this beautiful tradition of buying new clothes on Durga Panchami. They couldn’t remember last time they saw something like this.

We are pleased to announce to our donors and supporters that the Dharmansh we receive from you is being put to good work to bring smiles to the faces who are less fortunate, who are under stress because of poverty and who are being ignored by the system.