Our Correspondent ●Kolkata: For the second year in a row, the West Bengal government will award the best pujas not only in Kolkata, but also from other Indian cities and abroad. The highest cash reward in this regard is ₹5 lakh.
Atri Bhattacharya, principal secretary, information and cultural affairs department, said: “Puja committees under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, and the municipalities of Baranagar, South Dum Dum, and Biddhannagar, can apply for the award.” Only community pujas can participate in the competition, titled Biswa Bangla Sharod Samman, launched last year.
“The pavilion artists are trying their best innovative skills, the fashion designers are flying on the wings of fancy, the shopping malls are throbbing with thousand possible colours, and the dhakis are trying the breakthrough beats. Yes, it is our annual chance to rejuvenate, to cleanse our entities.” Bhattacharya added.
Meanwhile, city mayor Sovan Chattopadhyay, confirmed that KMC, following the instructions of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, will give a grant of ₹10,000 to pujas organised exclusively by women. This will enthuse more women to start durga puja, as the deity is considered as ‘nari shakti’, Chattopadhyay added.
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