Kolkata :
The day many were waiting for has finally arrived. The list of winners of the Poorav’s Commando Energy Drink presents Times Sharod Srestho has been announced. Pallisree Ultadanga, Adarsha Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee and Chetla Agrani Club have bagged the honours for Shrestho Pujo while Jodhpur Park 95 Pally Sarbojanin Durgotab Committee, Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee and Chetla Agrani Club have walked away with the awards for Shrestho Protima.
Sharod Srestho is a novel contest organized by The Times of India as part of its bouquet of events to celebrate Durga Puja. The eight edition of this contest was a great success with a number of participants winning awards. The initiative was supported by Kolkata Police and organized with realty partner GreenTechCity and jewellery partner Sawansukha Designers Jewellers in association with National Insurance Company Ltd and LIC and co-sponsored by LIC Housing Finance Ltd, Wild Stone and Whirlpool.
This year, the Shrestho Aloksojja award went to Dumdum Park Bharat Chakra Puja Committee. This Puja committee also bagged the Shrestho Bhavna award. The Shera Alankar award by Sawansukha was won by Jodhpur Park 95 Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee. The Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee was declared runners-up while Pallisree Ultadanga stood a close third. This year, two new categories were introduced. While the Shrestho Music award went to Jodhpur Park 95 Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee, the Shrestho Chomok award was won by Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsab. Only trophies were awarded in these two categories.
The objective of the competition was to present a unique puja experience while choosing and awarding the best pujas based on a number of parameters. Initially, professors from art colleges did a preliminary round of judging and some of the pujas were shortlisted. Then a panel of celebrity judges visited the pandals and rated them on the decoration, lighting, and other aspects.
This year, the celebrity judges included actors Paoli Dam, Rajatava Dutta, Abir Chatterjee, Konineeca Banerjee and Saheb Bhattacharrya; photographer Indranil Mukherjee; Soumitro of Bhoomi; makeup artist Annirudha Chakladar; TV artists Priyanka Pal and Sonalee Ganguly; music director Raja Narayan Deb and artist Pradip Maitra.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / TNN / October 01st, 2014