RASHMI Group Honours Village Durga Puja with ‘Sharad Samman 2026’ Awards

Kharagpur : RASHMI Group celebrated the spirit of Sharadotsav by organising ‘Sharad Samman 2026’ (Season-2), an award ceremony honouring village Durga Puja committees for creativity, artistry and rural cultural heritage. The initiative recognised the Best Mandap and Best Idol among village Pujas, aiming to encourage the dedication of Puja organisers and strengthen the festive spirit in rural areas.In the ‘Best Idol in Village’ category,Maheshpur Latibpur Durga Puja Samiti won the first prize, while Jagai Durga Utsav Samiti took the second position. In the ‘Best Mandap in Village’ category, Barkola Bullet Club secured first place, followed by Barkola Bidyut Bahini Durga Puja Committee in second.Each first prize-winning committee received Rs. 15,000, and each second prize-winning committee received Rs. 10,000.The judging panel included Prof. Bhim Charan Meikap from the Chemical Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur; Pratap Narayan Paria, Headmaster of Barkola Vivekananda High School; Sanjib Mitra, Principal of Jhargram Art Academy; and artists Tuli Mitra and Soumyadeep Das.The judges evaluated the Pujas on pandal decoration, artistic beauty of the idol, creativity and overall presentation.Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Bhim Charan Meikap said that RASHMI Sharad Samman would help take the Puja committees further ahead. Sanjib Mitra and Pratap Narayan Paria also praised the company’s initiative for honouring artistic creativity.Bhaskar Chaudhuri, Executive Director of RASHMI Group, said the award was a special honour for the artists and Puja organisers, one that would help the committees move forward in a more beautiful way.The award-winning committees expressed joy and excitement, crediting the collective effort of local people, the hard work of the artists and long-term planning. They said RASHMI Group’s initiative would inspire village Puja committees to achieve even more — and proved that rural Pujas, along with big city celebrations, deserve equal respect for their artistic ideas and cultural diversity.The judges highlighted that Durga Puja is not merely a religious festival but a unique expression of art, culture, heritage and social cohesion. Recognising local talent, they noted, can pave the way for new ideas and creations in the future.The event also underlined RASHMI Group’s social responsibility, with mention of its CSR initiatives in education, health, rural development and social welfare — reflecting the organisation’s commitment not only to industrial growth but to the overall development of society.All in all, ‘Sharad Samman 2026, Season-2’ was not just an award ceremony — it was a special platform honouring the art, culture, creativity and collective spirit of rural Bengal.