On Tuesday morning, a fleet of 40 cars was flagged off in search of the pujas that have worked the hardest and with the greatest success to make their pandal premises safe for visitors and local residents alike, made the most meaningful contribution to society throughout the year and contributed to making Durga Puja as a whole a happy festival.
Their destinations were the 300-odd pujas across Calcutta and Howrah that had been shortlisted from over 500 entries that sought to be part of the 22-year-old movement that is the CESC The Telegraph True Spirit Puja, being held in association with The Bhawanipur Education Society College and Kutchina.
Since 2023, the pujas have been divided into three categories — platinum, diamond and gold — based on scale, environment, budget and past record, so that there is a parity in the basis for comparison.
And on Wednesday morning, eminent residents of Calcutta will make a tour of the pandals deemed to be the finest on the True Spirit Puja parameters of safety and security, management skills and social service on the basis of the preliminary screening conducted on Tuesday. They will decide on the Model Puja and the Five Star Pujas in each category.
The core parameters have remained the same over the years, which differentiated this award from other contests that used to focus on bright lights,
big pandals and pretty idols two decades ago, when it broke new ground by
showing puja organisers new directions to improve the Puja experience across Calcutta.
The basic concerns remain traffic management, fire safety and visitor comfort, with special attention to provisions for drinking water, first-aid counter, helpdesk with emergency numbers, and facilities for senior citizens and differently abled visitors. The source of electricity at the pandal needs to be a secure and approved one, with extra credit for undertaking energy conservation measures.
The noise demon needs to be kept on a leash with announcements made and music played at the pandal kept within permissible sound limits.
Organisers are also expected to be mindful of the environment by shunning the use of plastic and non-biodegradable materials, like thermocol, in the pandal. Use of natural and nature-friendly materials are encouraged. Greening initiatives, like tree plantation, will receive a pat on the back.
The precincts also need to be clean with proper waste management facilities in place. A commitment to gender neutrality is encouraged whereby the congregation would chant “santanan dehi” in place of “putran dehi” in the mantra during puspanjali offered to the deity, seeking a child in place of a son.
The finalists, who will be visited by the panel of eminent judges on Wednesday morning, are expected to offer a template for other pujas to follow so the city’s Durga Puja becomes a worthier and happier experience for everyone.
