Pujas by Indian diaspora will now vie for Sharad Samman

Spreading the 'Sharod Samman' fever to faraway New Jersey, Camden and say Seoul, Durga puja organizers abroad can now vie with their Kolkata counterparts to score over aesthetics, theme in the world's first global 'digital sharod samman' initiative.
"Aimed at uniting pujas across the globe and fete the most creative ones, the Large Durga Pujo Award will evaluate the spirit, the puja concept (idea), the feeling of togetherness (spirit), the social impact (how the puja impacts the neighbourhood before, during festival and afterwards) and significantly the design quotient," a spokesman from Showhouse Events, having conceived the idea. Said.
"More than the lavishly mounted, mega budget, heavyweight pujas, the less minimalist ones, retaining the very essence of Baroari Durgotsab, traditional in heart but global and contemporary on face will be contenders," he said.

"All one has to do is register at
www.Largedurgapujo.Com and join the page facebook.Com/largedurgapujo, upload photos and videos of their pujas as the festivities start and give details. With the last day of submission on Vijaya Dashami, the winners of Royal Stag Large Durga Puja Awards will be chosen through online voting on October 30," he said.
Says Kahaani actor Parambrata Chatterjee, "Went to Mumbai at the fag end of the Ganapati festivities where the frenzy matches the 'bhasan' jigs at our Durga immersions. And having seen hoardings about Durga Puja in Mumbai at intersections this time, we can understand how the flavvour of the Puja spreads far and wide."

"This is the first ever award to my knowledge where Non Resident Bengalis in Glasgow and elsewhere and those settled in other Indian cities can also be part of a prestigious award event. The contest will pit on pujas in Bengal and outside on the same platter as social network is a great leveler," the Haoa Badal director-actor said.