West Bengal government to confer puja award to 75 puja committees

The West Bengal government has announced the names of 75 puja committees for the Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman awards in the state.

The awards will be given for various categories, including the best idol, best pandal, best illumination work and best concept.

Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen said on October 15 that the award-winning puja committees also included those from outside Kolkata.

The 'Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman' is the first such initiative by any state to honour organisers of the grand festival, which draws millions of people to the pandals during the four-day festival, Sen said.

Crowd puller among the pujas held in the city, Baghbazar Sarbojonin and Ekdalia Evergreen would be honoured in the 'best sabeki' category for retaining traditions (sabeki) in their puja celebrations and conventional idols over the decades.

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Nine pujas in the city, including Babu Bagan, Jodhpur Park Sarbojonin, Mohammed Ali Park, would be conferred the award in the best pandal category.

Ten were named as awardees in the best Durga puja idol category. Some of the recipients of the award in this category included Kalighat Milan Sangha, Badamtala Asar Sangha, Kumartuli Sarbojonin, Tala Pratay, Salt lake F D Block.

The pujas to be awarded for the best illumination included Hindustan Club Sarbojonin, College Square, 64 Palli, Shimla Bayam Samity, Khidderpore 25 Pally and Maniktala Chaltabagan in the city.

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In the best concept (idea) category, 12 pujas in the city including Samajsebi, Chorbagan, Hatibagan Sarbojonin, 75 Palli Bhawanipore, would be conferred the award.

There were also categories like best discovery, best the theme song, best branding, best environment-friendly puja, best dhakeswari (using traditional drum - 'dhak' - to pep up the frenzy).

The 75 'Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman' winners will take part in the Red Road Immersion Carnival on October 23 which will be attended by foreign dignitaries apart from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her cabinet colleagues and other prominent personalities. 

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