Beyond the glitter, honouring pujas with a purpose across Calcutta and Howrah

The countdown to Bengal’s grandest festival has begun, bringing with it the return of a pioneering initiative that puts civic responsibility on a par with festive spectacle.

The CESC The Telegraph True Spirit Puja enters its 24th edition this year, continuing its mission to recognise Durga Puja committees that combine festive grandeur with safety, inclusivity and social consciousness. More than 200 pujas across Calcutta and Howrah are participating this year, including 39 newcomers.

To familiarise the debutants with the initiative’s standards, a briefing session was held on October 9, outlining the compliance requirements that define the True Spirit ethos.

The evaluation process kicks off on Thursday with preliminary screening. A fleet of 25 cars carrying judges will fan out across Calcutta and Howrah to assess pandals on safety, infrastructure, visitor amenities and social responsibility. The exercise will identify the top performers for the final round.

On Friday, Mahasashthi, a panel of celebrity judges will visit the shortlisted pandals to determine the winners of the coveted Model Puja and Five Star Puja titles across the various categories.

To ensure a level playing field, the initiative continues with its tiered grading system, grouping pandals into Platinum, Diamond and Gold categories. The structure allows smaller, community-driven pujas to compete fairly with big-budget spectacles, with performance and civic standards taking precedence over financial muscle.

A special True Heritage Puja award, by Charnock Lohia Hospital, will recognise one outstanding puja in each of the three tiers for preserving traditional roots alongside civic excellence. The Voiceworx Truly Managed Puja award will honour organisers who demonstrate exceptional management.

At the heart of the evaluation is a stringent checklist that prioritises visitor well-being and civic responsibility. Key criteria include:

• Safety and security: Approved electrical installations, energy conservation, fire safety, and effective crowd and traffic management.
• Visitor comfort: Clean drinking water, first-aid facilities, helpdesks displaying emergency contacts, and provisions for senior citizens and visitors with disabilities.
• Environmental awareness: Avoidance of plastic and thermocol, use of natural materials, proper waste disposal and local greening initiatives.
• Social and cultural inclusivity: Year-round charitable work and gender-sensitive practices, including the use of “santanan dehi” instead of “putran dehi” during pushpanjali prayers, seeking a child rather than specifically a son.
• Community friendliness: Measures to curb noise pollution and a strict avoidance of coercive subscription collection.

Over more than two decades, the initiative has helped reshape Calcutta’s festive landscape, encouraging organisers to create celebrations that are more accessible and environmentally conscious. As the judges take to the streets, the 2026 edition looks to set yet another benchmark for celebrating Durga Puja in its truest, most responsible spirit.