The celebrity judge teams for CESC The Telegraph True Spirit Puja (TSP) were split into four zones and visited 16 pujas on Sashthi (Monday). We take you through their step-by-step journey.
SOUTH
64 Pally Durga Utsav Committee
The colourful pandal on Satish Mukherjee Road made of kites, thread and latai (reel bar) impressed the judges on their first stop but what they were looking for was how True they were to the Spirit of the Puja.
"What if someone is taken unwell?" Scott Furssedonn-Wood, the British deputy high commissioner, asked the organisers.
"The pandal is very lively and vibrant, and the idol is grand. But the entry and exit points are cramped," said Tollywood star Raima Sen.
The organisers scored with their record of social work - medical camps and regular meals for underprivileged children.
TSP rating: 3 Star
Tridhara Akalbodhan
The Manoharpukur Road puja impressed with how the pandal allowed easy movement of visitors. After all, this one is a former Model Puja.
"Most of it is open-air and even if the crowd count increases, everyone can have a glimpse of the idol," said Raima. "I like the way it's on a walking route," added Elizabeth, Scott's wife.
The theme was " kathputul" or puppets. "We decided to go back to dolls because the present generation of kids is glued to video and computer games. And the kathputul is an art form of Nadia that we wanted to highlight," said Gargi Mukherjee, an organiser.
"They've used lots of natural materials, shells and leaves," said Scott.
TSP rating: 4 Star
Selimpur Pally
The revolving pandal - themed "nostalgia", explained artist Sushanta Pal - with two tiers was aesthetically a hit but fell short on some vital True Spirit parameters.
"It's a work of art, really. But the revolving pandal is run on electricity and they are not really transparent about it," said Raima.
Debashis Roy, vice-president, IT, CESC, explained: "In terms of electrical service it was not up to the mark; the cables were not laid out properly. Also, though there were CCTVs, no one was manning the feed."
TSP rating: 3 Star
Naktala Udayan Sangha
A huge sunflower with gold petals atop the pandal that opened and closed was the first thing you noticed.
"I love how they have used ceiling fans to make the flower, the fact that someone looked at a fan and instead of seeing a rusty broken old thing they saw a beautiful flower," said Scott.
The organisers were in full TSP mode. "We have sprayed fire retardant chemicals in the entire pandal especially because we have used wood," said committee member Subrata Chakraborty.
"Isn't it beautiful? I love the idol and I like the concept of Ma Durga sitting on a lotus. I like the way the volunteers are managing the crowd even though the entry and exit road is narrow," said Raima.
Before leaving the pandal, Scott tried his hand at playing the dhaak to loud cheers from the crowd, which included wife Elizabeth and Raima.
TSP rating: 5 Star
BEHALA-HOWRAH
Kalyan Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee
The Howrah puja, in its 57th year, had created a makeshift old-age home within the pandal where they gave shelter to some homeless senior citizens. "Post-Puja, we aim to provide them shelter on the first floor of our club house," said Joydeep Dey, coordinator.
This gesture bowled over Rituparna Sengupta. "It's great that a puja committee has actually thought about some elderly people who have nobody to look after them," said the actress.
But as Arijit Basu, deputy general manager, customer relations, CESC, pointed out: "Crowd management would be a problem because the pandal is built on a small plot of land."
TSP rating: 3 Star
Olabibitola Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee
Themed 'Ganga Amar Maa', the Howrah puja in its 68th year highlighted the pollution threat to river Ganga by using eco-friendly means to create the pandal.
"We have set up sound-proof generators. And there are CCTV cameras, wheelchairs for the elderly and smoke alarms in place," said Somnath Banerjee, an organiser. Plus, bio-toilets!
"The anti-pollution theme is commendable and the innovation is quite amazing," said Rituparna.
TSP rating: 4 Star
Nandana Yuba Sangha
This Behala puja had got dokra artisans from Gushkara to display their creations and some tribal women to showcase their dance form. Rituparna did not miss the chance to match steps with them as pandal-hoppers went click-click.
In keeping with the True Spirit code, there was proper drinking water facility and washrooms for men and women.
French consul-general Damien Syed was impressed with the multiple circuit-breakers in place. "It is important to have such safety measures," he said.
TSP rating: 3 Star
State Bank Park Sarbojanin Durgotsav
Rituparna loved the Durga in her red Benarasi at this Thakurpukur puja, which impressed with its TSP measures.
A baby-care centre where mothers could change diapers and feed children was a winner. The medical camp at the site even had an ambulance with a driver on standby. Plus, a PTZ (Pan, Tilt and Zoom) camera for proper crowd management and an audio limiter to keep the sound within the permissible limit (65 decibels).
"We have also arranged for insurance up to Rs 75 lakh for every individual in case of any accident or calamity inside the pandal," said Amit Ghosh, assistant secretary of the puja.
TSP rating: 5 Star
NORTH
Kashi Bose Lane Durga Puja Committee
The first stop on the route impressed from the get-go. Every part of the pandal highlighted the theme: 'Meye Bela'.
"We wanted to create awareness about the importance of the girl child and the evil that is female infanticide," said Somen Dutta, the general secretary of the puja.
"I loved the theme," said actress Swastika Mukherjee.
First-aid counter and toilets apart, there was a ramp, two wheelchairs, and a separate place for baby care. Plus, bottled water for every visitor.
"Everyone in the neighbourhood seemed to be involved; I was really touched by the community spirit of the puja," said Craig L. Hall, the US consul-general in Calcutta.
TSP rating: 5 Star
Nalin Sarkar Street Sarbojanin Durgotsab
A shower of flower petals and beats of dhaak welcomed the judges to this pandal bedecked with dolls made of knitted paper and cloth. The 83-year-old puja impressed with safety measures and also social work. "This year we donated five wheelchairs to differently abled children in the locality," said Siddhartha Sanyal, general secretary, puja committee.
The one negative? The cramped interiors. "I love the sense of tradition and also the decorations but the inside is a bit claustrophobic because of lack of space," said Craig.
TSP rating: 3 Star
Sammilita Lalabagan Sarbojanin
This one reminded the judges of a Bengali household. "It was rooted in Bengali tradition and I liked the use of shil-nora and shakha-pola," said Swastika.
"Other than having sprinklers and fire extinguishers, we have a 10,000-litre water tank that can be used in case of an emergency. The hay is also fire-protected," said Partha Ranjan Ghosh, an organiser.
One thing that bothered the judges was how the entry and exit to the pandal was the same, which could cause chaos during peak hours.
TSP rating: 3 Star
Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja
The True Spirit Puja veteran not only lived up to all the parameters but also walked the extra mile. Other than toilets, generator, first-aid, what stood out was the use of solar panels to generate electricity, CCTV camera feed under constant monitoring and a big map at the entrance of the street to indicate the toilets, ambulance, wheelchair, fire exit....
"This puja is like a star senior citizen in the True Spirit movement. It's like Amitabh Bachchan being in the nomination for a film award!" said Swastika.
"I love the use of coconut shells," said Ana, Craig's daughter, who soon got busy clicking her father as he tried his hand at the dhaak.
TSP rating: 4 Star
EAST
Kalitala Sporting Club
German consul-general Olaf Iversen and Tolly-Bolly actor Parambrata Chattopadhyaya's first stop was this Kalikapur puja, which showcased safety measures as well as social projects.
The two grey areas for the 27-year-old puja? Waste management and crowd management. "The 'Use Me' bins should have been distributed evenly across the premises," said Parambrata. Olaf was concerned about crowd management as the entry-exit point was separated by a single rope.
TSP rating: 3 Star
Kasba Shakti SanghaPallybasi Durgatsab Samity
On a 14-cottah plot of land, the puja had recreated Mashaldanga Chhitmahal, a village on the Bangladesh border that just recently became a part of India. Nineteen clay huts, a Shiv mandir, a pond and 70 figurines depicting village life... mirrored six months of effort.
"Thematically it's brilliant. They have put in a very genuine effort," said Parambrata.
TSP rating: 4 Star
Tangra Gholpara Sarbojanin Durgotsav
The theme? Samudra Manthan. The moment? Parambrata and Olaf playing the dhaak to the delight of hundreds of local residents.
"I have a sense of rhythm. Apart from the dhaak, I can play the darbuka, djembe and tabla," said the actor. Fangirl Moumita Mondal managed to make her way through the crowd crush and shake Param's hand. "I've watched all your films," she grinned.
A TSP participant from the start of the movement 13 years ago, Tangra Gholpara ticked all the vital boxes and also provided rooms for senior citizens, baby care and first-aid. "Following the True Spirit guidelines, we make our 95-year-old puja safe and sensitive," said general secretary Ramprasad Banik.
TSP rating: Model Puja
Manicktala CIT Palli Scheme VI(M) Durgotsav
Ninety-year-old Anita Ghosh, one of the founder members, greeted Parambrata as he stepped into the pandal. Tradition is paramount here, so the idol is the traditional ekchala. Only jute and paper had been used to build the entire pandal. Even the dustbins are made of bamboo and there was no use of plastic.
In its 54th year, the puja had made arrangements for a solar panel, sitting arrangements for senior citizens, emergency entry/exit gates.... "This is my favourite. Just like barir pujo, really intimate and without frills," said Parambrata.
TSP rating: 5 Star
