450 entries. Six finalists. One winner. Sashthi morning saw the finale of Zandu Balm Koshto Kore Sreshtho Samman, in association with Anandabazar Patrika, an award that recognised the achievements of low-budget small-scale para pujas. Tripping across town, celebrity judges Rupam and Swastika Mukherjee had a fun day out, checking out six para pujas. Snapshots...
WINNER: GHOSH PARA PALLY SEVA SAMITY
The bachcha party rallied around Swastika Mukherjee for a round of “Hip hip hurrah!” at Ghosh Para Pally Seva Samity, which won the Zandu Balm Koshto Kore Sreshtho Samman, in association with Anandabazar Patrika, and bagged Rs 1 lakh as prize money. The pandal in New Alipore resembled a Chandi mandap in an idyllic Bengal village, and pandal-hoppers were in for a surprise when Rupam took to the dhaak and got Swastika swaying to his beat. “This is the first time we won an award and it felt so good! We worked for 50 days to set up this pandal and all the hard work has paid off,” said Sourav Marik, a puja committee member. “I loved the initiative of these pujas. Everyone is so involved and there is so much joy around. And it’s great to see that money was not a constraint for them,” said Swastika.
FIRST RUNNER-UP: SHAHNAGAR BARWARI SAMITY
Green and clean was the theme at Shahnagar Barwari Samity puja. The 74-year-old puja made clever use of its surroundings to produce a scenic Neverland. The community park in the Kalighat area served as the venue, nestling the pandal in manicured greenery. The pandal itself was a cluster of large mushrooms, making an umbrella for the idol. Reason enough to win the first runner-up award and prize money of Rs 75,000. “I was especially in awe of their sound effects... the sound of birds chirping and the flowing streams. They paid supreme attention to detail,” said Rupam, after snapping a dualfie with Swastika.
SECOND RUNNER-UP: SOVABAZAR BURTOLLA SARBOJANIN DURGOTSAV
Rupam and Swastika relived old-school cabin dining — think Mitra Cafe — at Sovabazar Burtolla Sarbojanin Durgotsav, which was declared the second runner-up. “For me, the idol plays a very important role and this image of the goddess is very moving. I really loved their initiative to bring back the famous cabin culture of north Calcutta,” said the Shaheb Bibi Golaam actress in the pandal at 20 Abinash Kabiraj Street. The judges were gifted dolls (picture left) that were a part of the decor. “I got a doll that looked exactly like me and even wore a black kurta!” laughed Fossils frontman Rupam.
THEY ALSO WON...
The judges got a cheery welcome at N.S.C. Sports Club puja that has a carnivalesque feel with colourful bunting and streamers in red, blue and yellow. Set up by the local sports club in Ranikuthi, this pandal won the Sholpo Lokbol-e Pujo award. A live pata painting stall was another highlight.
Samu Park Kalyan Samity’s puja in Behala had Ma Durga dressed as a “peasant’s daughter”. The pandal that took a year to complete had kulo, paintings, hay and dhaan as part of the interiors. It won the Budget-er Modhye Boro Bhabonar Pujo award.
The 43-year-old Pallybasi Darjeepara Durgotsav Committee puja was the fruit of the labour of around 15 families living in the neighbourhood. “I loved how this puja feels so gharowa with Ma Durga wearing laal-paar sari,” said Swastika, clicking a selfie at the puja in the Girish Park area that won the Simito Sponsor-e Pujo award.
VOICEOVER
“Durga Puja is all about celebrating bonding. There are many pujas held in the bylanes of the city, where emotions are more important than budgets. Zandu Balm is considered the ultimate relief for pains and we wanted to felicitate the small-puja organisers for the pains they take to make their pujas a grand success,” said Mohan Goenka, director, Emami Ltd.
Text: Pramita Ghosh & Bulbul Rajagopal. Pictures: Rashbehari Das
