Durga Puja and Colonization

For the second half of 2022, UCSC Anthropology major Brent Horning

lived in West Bengal, India. He studied Bangla language sponsored by the

Critical Language Scholarship and conducted ethnographic thesis

fieldwork with the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. Despite beginning

his research on “The Influence of the Buddhist Charyapada manuscript on

the Indic Baul Tradition” he changed his focus to the immense Hindu festival, Durga Puja and the influence of British colonization. This presentation will highlight his experiences in India, thesis topics and photo exhibit in the ethnographic library at Social Sciences 1, room 328.

Brent Horning (He/Him) is a senior transfer and geriatric millennial majoring in Anthropology focused on South Asian spiritual traditions. He has been exploring wellness and cross-cultural exchange since moving from Michigan in 2001. He holds certifications as a Massage Therapist, Yoga and Meditation instructor and Drug and Alcohol Addiction Counselor(CADC) and has worked in many diverse holistic and clinical environments. He is a founding member of the UCSC branch of the Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honors Society, and the main event organizer for this year's Anthro Day program. He plans to continue ethnographic Indic research and pursue a PhD in Anthropology or Ethnomusicology.