The Telegraph Puja Premier League, presented by Micromax in association with Kutchina, was the newest talking point this Durga Puja. Modelled on the IPL, with votes and not runs to play for, the 10 contenders fought it out with a smile through the festive days. A quick lookback.

THE 10 CONTENDERS: Tridhara Sammilani, Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra, Santoshpur Lake Pally, Maniktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty, Bosepukur Sitala Mandir, Garia Nabadurga, Ahiritola Sarbojonin, Santosh Mitra Square, Barisha Youth Club and Jodhpur Park.

THE CONTEST: Ten Tollywood stars drummed up support for the 10 PPL pujas as their brand ambassadors. Between October 4 and 9, the celebrities paid a visit to their respective pandals and participated in various activities, from dhunuchi naach to swaying to the beat of the dhaak and sometimes trying their hand at the dhaak themselves.

WHAT THE PUJAS WERE JUDGED ON: The various activities like cultural programmes put up by the members, the social commitment showed by them and innovations on the Micromax canvas.

HOW THE RESULTS WERE ARRIVED AT: A panel of judges visited the 10 pujas on Saptami and judged them on the basis of theme, footfall, decoration, the Micromax canvas and crowd turnout. Three winners were chosen through public voting on SMS and on the website TTPPL.in, plus the markings by the panel of judges.

Gung-ho GARGI!

Gargi the PPL brand ambassador at Chaltabagan after Sindoor Khela

MANIKTALA CHALTABAGAN LOHAPATTY: FIRST

WHAT SHE SAID THEN: “I am closely associated with Maniktala Chaltabagan. And I really enjoyed doing the dhunuchi naach after a long time! It was good fun,” said the star face of the puja for PPL.

“The idol and the pandal are lovely.”

WHAT SHE SAYS NOW: “I was in Benaras when I got a call fromSundeep Bhutoria (chairman of Maniktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja) and he told me that Chaltabagan had won the PPL! I was in disbelief for a minute but then I felt very proud because as the brand ambassador I feel proud of my association with Chaltabagan. Despite the Puja being held in the middle of the road, there’s hardly any traffic jam ever. It’s so well managed, the idol is beautiful and the members are very responsible. I am glad we made it to the top. Hope we win year after year!”

SPONSOR SPEAK: “In India, festivals are the time when everyone comes together and connects with each other. With Durga Puja being the most celebrated festival in Calcutta, it was ideal for us to connect with our end consumer and be an integral part of their celebrations. We would like to congratulate the winners of the Puja Premier League as the event brought out the best festive spirit among the people, and brought them together with their loved ones,” said Shubhodip Pal, chief marketing officer,Micromax.

Agnimitra Paul, Gargi Roy Chowdhury, guest of honour Moon Moon Sen, Rimjhim Mitra, Chaiti Ghoshal and Arunima Ghosh at Thursday’s Sindoor Khela at Maniktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty, presented by OSAA. “I had a lovely time. The idol and the pandal are beautiful,” said Moon Moon

“I congratulate Maniktala Chaltabagan. they deserve to win because despite

constructing the pandal on a busy stretch, they manage everything so smoothly.... I think PPL is a great initiative and in years to come it will become even more intense and interesting,” said Namit Bajoria, director, Kutchina.

This year Maniktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty celebrated 71 years of Durga Puja.
Since 2003, Maniktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty has made the cut for
The Telegraph True Spirit Puja award and in 2009 the puja won the Hall of Fame award from True Spirit.
All the 250 puja committee members are involved in charity, from distributing clothes and books to the needy to providing scholarships to students.

santosh mitra square: second

Sreelekha Mitra leads the cheers at Santosh Mitra Square, Lebutala, Sealdah. Picture: Pabitra Das

WHAT BRAND AMBASSADOR SREELEKHA SAID THEN: “Most of the pujas in north Calcutta have a charm of their own. They have held on to the Bangaliana dearly. Santosh Mitra Square puja is very special to me because Santosh Mitra also happens to be my father’s name!”

WHAT SHE SAYS NOW: “It’s a great feeling, really. Santosh Mitra Square worked very hard and the pandal looked like a real Roman structure. I am proud and happy and wish them all the best.”

 

 

 

 

GARIA NABADURGA: THIRD

Abir Chatterjee at Garia Nabadurga at Garia. Picture: Sayantan Ghosh

WHAT BRAND AMBASSADOR ABIR SAID THEN: “The fusion of old and new is the highlight of Garia Nabadurga. For me, Pujas are never complete without a visit to Garia Nabadurga. I remember whenever we would get stuck in the traffic jam near Garia during Durga Puja we would say it must be for Nabadurga!”

WHAT HE SAYS NOW: “Really!? We’ve made it to the top three? That’s great. Since I was the only male brand ambassador for PPL, I thought Garia Nabadurga won’t make it to the top! I am very, very happy because Garia Nabadurga also happens to be one puja I don’t miss. Next year we should top.”

JODHPUR PARK: BEST CANVAS

Koneenica Banerjee dances to the beat of the dhaak at Jodhpur Park. Picture: B.Halder

WHAT BRAND AMBASSADOR KONEENICA SAID THEN: “I felt as if this was my parar puja. I used to come to the Jodhpur Park puja during my college days and I feel that this puja has stayed the same. The whole experience was reminiscent of my college days. And the pandal is so spacious and you can comfortably see the idol.”

WHAT SHE SAYS NOW: “I am overjoyed and on top of the world! The Jodhpur Park club members were very involved with everything related to PPL. The Micromax canvas looks great. I am very happy. But gear up for next year because you have it in you to be the winner, Jodhpur Park. Hip hip hurray!”