The 'Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman', an initiative by the state government to promote and benchmark the execution of art work by Durga Puja committees in Bengal and elsewhere, will honour 25 puja committees as 'Serar Sera' (The better than the best) this year for their overall aesthetics.
The 'Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman' is the first such initiative by any state to honour organisers of the grand festival, West Bengal Minister of State for Information and Cultural affairs, Indranil Sen said.
While 25 puja committees have been given the 'Serar Sera' honour, the government will also award four puja committees which have stuck to the 'sabeki' style (traditional way) of celebrations all along.
"This is a new addition to honour sabeki pujas as well and this year we will be giving awards to four puja committees for sticking to the sabeki style all along," Sen said.
The 25 'Serar Sera' pujas include crowd-pullers like - Suruchi Sangha, Chetla Agrani, Barisha Club, Naktala Udayan Sangha, Tridhara, Abasar, Kasba Bosepukur Shitala Mandir, Mudiali, Samajsebi Sangha, Kashi Bose Lane Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Tallah Baroari, Bhavanipur 75 Palli and Shibmandir Durgotsav.
The four award winners in the 'Sabeki' puja categories are Ekdalia Evergreen, Baghbazar Sarbojonin, Adi Ballygunje and 76 Pally who have been known for traditional idols and pandals.
Thirtynine puja committees were also awarded in separate categories like best pandal, best idol, best illumination, best idea, best discovery, best artiste, best theme song/ambience, best environment friendly), best branding, best drummer. The 'Searar Sera' pujas were also among the winners in these categories.
Sen said the Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman winners will take part in the Red Road Immersion Carnival on October 3 to be organised by the state government. Five hundred foreign guests who will be attending the city for the Under 17 World Cup have been invited to attend the Carnival.
The awards will be given to tyhe city puja comittees on October 12.
"We are also giving Viswa Bangla award to Durga Pujas in district and there will be nine awards in three categories for every district," he said.
The Biswa Bangla award will also be given to Durga puja organisers abroad. "This year we have already received around 60 entries," the minister said.
"Since the festival is held during weekends abroad we are expecting more entries by the end of this week and accordingly the winners will be decided who will be awarded next year due to logistical reasons," he said.
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