Hundreds of pujas in Kolkata and Howrah will vie for the best idol, pandal and puja but not without any disregard for the Covid safety norms.
Pujas from north and south Kolkata and Howrah are being judged virtually for the Parle Marie Anandabazar Patrika Sharad Arghya 1428 Sahajogitai Oaksmith Gold Glasses and co-sponsored by David & Goliath and radio partner 91.9 Friends FM.
In the first two rounds, judged by Anandabazar Patrika readers and art college students, puja organisers took the judges on a walkthrough of the pandals online.
The readers and art college students logged in from their homes in the first round of judging, which took place over two days. Sixty pandals have been selected from the 350 participants.
From the 60, top 15 were selected on Sunday — five each from north Kolkata, south Kolkata and Howrah — which made it to the final round.
The best idol, best pandal and best puja in each of the three regions will be judged by two artists, Bimal Kundu and Aditya Basak, on Monday.
“The focus is on artistic beauty but the judges are assessing the Covid safety protocols, too,” said an organiser.
“There are marks on the ambience, and judges also want to known the kind of material that have been used for the pandals,” the organiser said.
The use of mask, distancing, availability of sanitisers in the pandal have become essential features of Durga puja in Kolkata in last two years.
