Kolkata : The much-anticipated Greatest Show on Earth (GSOE) Awards celebrated the grandeur of Durga Puja this year by recognizing the creative brilliance and tradition of the puja committees which excelled in their craftsmanship. The organizers – The Greatest Show On Earth nominated puja committees that had budget of Rs 60 lakh and below, by recognizing excellence across various categories, especially focusing on idol artists, theme designers, and lighting artists who bring the festival to life.
Arnab Basu, co-founder of GSOE, emphasised the core mission of the awards, stating, ‘The GSOE Awards nurture talent at the grassroots level. By giving 60 percent of the prize money to idol artists, theme designers, and lighting artists, we are ushering in a new era of celebrating Durga Puja, balancing tradition and innovation.’ The substantial prize money aims to empower these artisans, making them integral to the future of this festival.
This year, more than 350 participants registered, vying for the prestigious GSOE title. After rigorous screening, 12 finalists were carefully selected by the GSOE team. Bodhisattva Banerjee, the co-founder of the organisation, highlighted the challenge of selecting the winners: ‘Each pandal was a separate world, which made our work difficult. Choosing the top 8 from the 12 finalists was an incredibly tough task.’
The star-studded judging panel included popular actors Rajatabh Dutta, Priyanka Sarkar, Sauraseni Maitra, and Sourav Das, alongside international representatives Ian Taylor from Manchester, UK, and a four-member French delegation. Industry veterans from the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, former IFA Chairman, and George Telegraph MD also lent their expertise to the panel.
After intense deliberation, the pandals that emerged as the top winners include Ahiritola Sarbojanin and Hatibagan Sarbojanin for the Best Theme. In Best Art and Environment category, the judges selected Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha as their first choice followed by Bosepukur Shitala Mandir. The Best Statue category went to Dum Dum Park Tarun Dal in the first spot and Kashibose Lane in second spot. Among the other prominent awards included Best Kolkata Puja which went to Rajdanga Nabodaya Sangha, Best Surprise of the Year was given to Kankurgachi Chalantika Club and Lalabagan Nabankur.
Meanwhile, The GSOE Awards expanded their reach beyond Kolkata this year, recognizing excellence in districts like Howrah, Kalyani, and Baruipur, with Mandirtala General Durgotsab Committee, Kalyani A9 Square and Pragati Sangha respectively.
The grand finale of this cultural festival is set to take place on October 27 at the historic Khelat Ghosh Rajbari in Pathuriaghata, where the trophies will be presented by GSOE co-founders, international representative Ian Taylor, actress Ditipriya Roy, and actor Rajdeep Gupta.
