Dugga Elo Ghawrey
Shortlisted Pujos
Behala Club Sarbojanin
Durgotsav Committee
Theme Artist : Pradip Das
Idol Artist : Pintu Sikder
Theme : Tel — The Market of Faith
Tel (Oil) is explored here as more than a kitchen essential, examining its links with faith, commerce, power and global politics. In fact, oil is used as a visual lens to examine power struggles and international rivalries. The theme takes a satirical look at contemporary international affairs, where the struggle for oil has been associated with geopolitical tensions, conflict and strained relations between nations.
Behala Youngmen's
Association
Theme Artist : Sanatan Dinda
Idol Artist : Sanatan Dinda
Theme : "Chhuti" (Holiday)
They have created a 'Cloud Factory' — a space where children play, completely absorbed in their activities, requiring neither mechanical equipment nor material capital. It is a realm of their own imagination, one that fosters the development of their intellect and consciousness. The message being conveyed here is that children should be allowed to take flight on the wings of their dreams and soar into the open sky.
Dum Dum Park Bharat
Chakra Club
Theme Artist : Manash Das
Idol Artist : Saikat Basu
Theme : "Bonger Roth Kotha" (The Story of Bengal's Chariots)
They have brought to life the forgotten histories, folk crafts and spiritual traditions associated with Bengal's legendary chariots and wooden temple woodwork. While Rath Yatra is often heavily associated with Puri in Odisha, the theme highlights Bengal's own deep-rooted, centuries-old chariot traditions, folklore and spiritual heritage. Their installation features intricate wooden woodwork, traditional chariot wheels, and a visual narrative told through the tracks and marks of Rother Chakar Daag (Charot Wheels).
FD Block Sarbojanin Puja Committee
Theme Artist : Prasanta Pal
Idol Artist : Tapan Majhi
Theme : Nakshi Konar Math
They have created a colourful fusion of traditional Indian folk arts, including Gond Folk Art (from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh), Madhubani Paintings (Mithila Art), Pattachitra, and Bengal's rural embroidery crafts (similar to Nakshi Kantha).The pandal transforms walls, passages and spatial structures into a moving, sustainable tapestry of rural Indian imagination and tribal heritage.
Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee
Theme Artist : Aditi Chakraborty
Idol Artist : Pallab Jana
Theme : Nishan — The Mark
Their theme draws from the Ramnami Samaj of Chhattisgarh, a devotional community whose members inscribe the name of Ram across their bodies. The practice began in the 1890s, as a peaceful response to being denied entry to temples. The theme explores the idea of a mark as an expression of faith, identity and resistance.
Naktala Udayan
Sangha
Theme Artist : Anirban Das
Idol Artist : Anirban Das
Theme : Kaler Dhwani" (The Sound of Time)
Their creation is drama in black and white. Based on the Bengali Almanac, the installation has a roofscape that reminds me of the sacred five-peaked Mount Meru set against the stars in the night sky. Laid out like a horoscope chart, it has a gripping performance, accompanied by Baul singers, where Shiva and Parvati trace the form of almanac, as a metaphor for the cosmos (as a science) controlling destiny.
Netaji Sporting
Club
Theme Artist : Moloy Roy & Subhomoy Sinha
Idol Artist : Moloy Roy & Subhomoy Sinha
Theme : "Nagar Kotha" (The Story of a City)
Kolkata's history belongs to its people, not to a foreign founder. A historic Calcutta High Court verdict on May 16, 2003, officially shattered the colonial myth that the city was born on August 24, 1690, with the arrival of Job Charnock. Proving Kolkata is an ancient settlement rather than a recently cleared jungle, this ruling restored the region's true identity. Their Puja this year has brought this historical liberation to life through their theme. Their traditional earthen idol serves as a timeless witness to the genuine soul and enduring truth of Kolkata.
Rajdanga Amra Kajan Kalyan Samity
Theme Artist : Purnendu Dey
Idol Artist : Purnendu Dey
Theme : "Utsarito Aalo" (Radiated Light)
They have presented a tribute to pioneering Indian artist Gaganendranath Tagore, highlighting his contributions to modern Indian art, cubist expression, experimental painting and bold caricatures.
Rajdanga Naba Uday
Sangha
Theme Artist : Debasis Barui
Idol Artist : Saikat Giri
Theme : "Shodhan" (Purification)
Their installation portrays a future where relentless industrialisation and urban expansion have depleted natural forests, forcing a machine-driven civilisation to seek oxygen through artificial means. The theme urges a collective shift from environmental exploitation to conservation, emphasising the need for inner, mental and ecological renewal.
Samaj Sebi
Sangha
Theme Artist : Biswanath De
Idol Artist : Arighna Saha
Theme : "Mahapujoy Mahanayak" (Mega Festival, Megastar)
They have recreated the "Uttam Era" through an immersive blend of 1960s and 1970s aesthetics, transporting visitors to the decades when Bengali cinema was shaped by Uttam Kumar's charisma. Their pandal decoration upholds the iconic roles played by the legend, with their installations, designed to bridge generations, introducing young visitors to a foundational cultural icon like him.
Santoshpur Avenue South Club
Theme Artist : Susanta ShibanI Paul
Idol Artist : Adhir Pal & Susanta ShibanI Paul
Theme : "Nirmaan Binirmaan" (Construction-Deconstruction)
They have depicted a visual journey showing how human life, society and existence cycle through breaking down and rebuilding, set inside a unique architectural installation, resembling a transition between ruin and creation.
Yuba Sangha
Theme Artist : Bhabatosh Sutar
Idol Artist : Bhabatosh Sutar
Theme :"Ek Pukur Bhalobasa" (A Pond Full of Love)
They have focused on the ecological and cultural significance of Bengal's disappearing neighborhood ponds, highlighting how urbanisation and pollution affects these vital community spaces. The natural Telipukur pond has been utilised as a floating canvas with immersive floating murals, shadow performances, projection mapping and ceiling-projected mixed-media films.
Discovery of the year 2014
