On Sashthi morning, long before the city spilled onto the streets to soak in the festive spirit, a convoy rolled out of The Lalit Great Eastern. Its mission was to ensure that revellers could enjoy the pandals’ artistry while staying safe and cared for.
On board were the judges of the CESC The Telegraph True Spirit Puja (TSP) 2026, powered by Bhawanipur Global Campus, setting out to assess the measures that have made Durga pujas across Calcutta and Howrah safer and more meaningful over the past 23 years.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Charnock Lohia Hospital True Heritage Puja
■ Barisha Club
■ Ajeya Sanghati
■ Behala East Sabuj Sangha
Voiceworx Truly Managed Puja
■ Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha
Their destinations were pujas shortlisted in the Platinum, Diamond and Gold categories, based on budget and scale. A rigorous round of scrutiny had taken place on Thursday, when around 200 participants were assessed on traffic management, crowd control, fire safety and preparedness for medical emergencies, among other parameters.
At Ballygunge Cultural Association, muted illumination lends a serene ambience to the space around the idols, while 16 CCTV cameras keep watch over visitors. An ambulance stands by for emergencies. The neighbourhood has pitched in with safety arrangements, with the house next door providing the water source for the pandal’s supply pipeline.
“We have created a ramp to make the pandal accessible to wheelchair users. We also care for the 12 dhakis who have been associated with our puja for 30 years. During the Covid pandemic, we went to their village in Sashan with relief material,” said Anjan Ukil, president of the Puja committee.
For the first time in its long association with TSP, Ballygunge Cultural Association was named a Model Puja in the Platinum category.
At Rupchand Mukherjee Lane Sarbojanin in Bhowanipore, the trees are as much a priority as the visitors. A medical booth is equipped with a first-aid box, while gaps in the pandal accommodate branches that would otherwise obstruct the structure. The thoughtful approach earned the puja the Model Puja distinction in the Diamond category.
“We also care for those who deliver necessities to our doorsteps. In March, we felicitated women working as app-based delivery personnel on Women’s Day,” said president Sugata Ghosh. The community also organises annual blood donation and health check-up camps.
The pandal features wooden panels bearing hand-painted posters of Uttam Kumar’s films, marking the actor’s birth centenary year. “There are no flexes, which helps us avoid non-biodegradable waste,” Ghosh added.
At Tangra Gholpara Sarbojanin, the 107th edition of the puja began with a khuti puja that doubled as an occasion to distribute schoolbags and stationery among children. On Tritiya, clothes were distributed among underprivileged women and children from Dhapa. By the time the organisers learnt that the puja had been selected as a Model Puja in the Gold category, secretary Ramprasad Banik and his team were already preparing to distribute blankets on Saptami.
The pandal, designed as a tree sheltering the goddess, carries a message against the greed that drives people to destroy society and the earth.
Experience and innovation earned other pujas recognition. Shibmandir Sarbojanin, a TSP veteran in south Calcutta, secured a Five Star nomination in the Platinum category. Judges were impressed by its meticulous electrical arrangements and trained personnel ready to respond to fire emergencies.
In the Diamond category, 74 Palli Sarbojanin in Kidderpore won Five Star recognition for its focus on sustainable fashion and the plight of traditional weavers. The puja highlights heritage crafts such as Kalamkari block printing from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, which uses organic colours but faces competition from mass-produced garments.
Near Hatibagan, Sikdar Bagan Sadharon Durgotsav is drawing crowds with live performances of Pandavani, the folk musical tradition of Chhattisgarh. The art form anchors the puja’s tribute to Teejan Bai, its best-known exponent, who died in July. The puja also earned Five Star status in the Gold category for visitor safety and comfort, with CCTV cameras, smoke detectors and a biotoilet outside the pandal.
The Four Star winners this year were Samaj Sebi Sangha in the Platinum category,
Behala Friends in Diamond and Talapark Panero Pally in Gold.
Three pujas were recognised as True Heritage Pujas by TSP partner Charnock Lohia Hospital for preserving tradition while providing civic amenities: Barisha Club (Platinum), Ajeya Sanghati (Diamond) and Behala East Sabuj Sangha (Gold).
Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha was named the Voiceworx Truly Managed Puja, while Mudiali Club and Santoshpur Trikon Park Sarbojanin entered the TSP Hall of Fame for their consistently strong performances in recent years.