Dibrugarh: Shri Shri Sarbajanik Durga Puja Samity, Jhalukpara, was named the Best Puja in Assam’s Dibrugarh and received the Sharadiya Excellence Award at a ceremony held at its puja premises on Sunday during the Durga Puja celebrations.
The Sharadiya Durga Puja Excellence Awards 2026 was organised by three Dibrugarh-based digital news platforms, Northeast Pulse, Dibrugarh Times and Dibrugarh Xpress.
Aditya Super Speciality Hospital was the title sponsor, while the Jyoti Lalita Kanoi Foundation supported the event. M/s Tax Solutions and Nandan Sweets and Snacks were the co-sponsors.
A total of 18 awards were presented across seven categories. A three-member jury comprising Didikhya Gogoi, Kaushik Kashyap and Rajib Dutta visited puja pandals across Dibrugarh to select the winners.
The Best Puja trophy and certificate were presented at Sunday’s ceremony. The remaining awards are scheduled to be handed over to the winning committees at their respective pandals by Monday.
Those who attended the event included Dibrugarh Mayor Saikat Patra, physician Nirmal Sahewalla and his wife Sarita Sahewalla, philanthropist CA Jyoti Prasad Kanoi and his wife Lalita Kanoi, Assam Medical College and Hospital Principal Sanjeeb Kakati and his wife, Dibrugarh Press Club president Manash Jyoti Dutta, vice-president Anil Poddar, Jhalukpara Puja Samity president Krishna Bhartia, and M/s Tax Solutions proprietor Mukesh Agarwal.
The guests were felicitated with phoolam gamochas and mementoes. Avik Chakraborty delivered the welcome address on behalf of the organisers, followed by speeches from the invited guests, beginning with the mayor.
Nikumoni Nath and Silpisikha Das anchored the programme, which concluded with a vote of thanks by Jyoti Khakholia.
Shri Shri Sarbajanik Durga Puja Samity, Jhalukpara, won the Sharadiya Excellence Award for Best Puja. In the Theme and Concept category, Mitra Sangha Puja Committee secured first place, followed by Graham Bazar Puja Committee in second place and Theatrepara Malipatty Durga Puja Samity in third place.
Shree Shree Chiring Chapori Durga Puja Committee, Goshala, received the consolation award.
In the Indigenous and Creative Excellence category, Graham Bazar Municipal Colony Durga Puja Samity won first place, followed by Masterpara Durga Puja Committee and Subhashpally Sarbajanin Bhubaneshwari Kalibari Durga Puja Committee in second and third places, respectively.
Progressive Youth Cultural Association Bansbari Pathar Durga Puja Committee received the consolation award.
In the Pratima category, New Chowkidinghee KP Road Sarbajanin Durga Puja won first place, followed by Graham Bazar Municipal Colony Durga Puja Samity and Gabharupather Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee.
Jyoti Nagar Sarbajanik Sri Durga Puja Samity won first place in the Green Puja (Eco-Friendly) category, while Paltan Bazar Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samity secured second place.
In Best Illumination, Gabharupather Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee took first place, followed by Jalannagar Sarbajanin Sri Sri Durga Puja Committee.
In the Discipline and Management category, Sri Marwari Durga Puja Samity won first place, while Jyoti Nagar Sarbajanik Sri Durga Puja Samity secured second place.