Swarlipi Sangha Wins Best Idol Award, Ramakrishna Sebashram Secures Second Place

Sri Sri Ramakrishna Sebashram, Sreemangal, secured second place in the Idol Beauty category at ‘Sharad Sammanana-2026’, a Durga Puja-themed competition organized by Debi Moncho in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar. The award recognized the artistic beauty and craftsmanship of the idol.

The award ceremony was held at Sreemangal Poura Mohsin Auditorium at around 7:00 pm on Friday (October 30), under the initiative of cultural organization Debi Moncho.

In the Best Idol category, Swarlipi Sangha secured first place, followed by Sri Sri Ramakrishna Sebashram in second place, Sri Sri Sreemangaleswari Kalibari in third, Dakshin Ruposhpur Puja Udjapan Parishad in fourth, and Purboasha Sarbojanin Durgabari in fifth place.

In the Best Puja Mandap category, Sabujbagh Sarbojanin Durga Puja Udjapan Parishad secured first place. Sabujbagh Jubo Durga Puja Udjapan Parishad came second, Lalbagh Sarbojanin Sri Sri Durgabari third, Adarsha Sreemangal Puja Udjapan Parishad fourth, and Dakshin Bhadoura Puja Udjapan Parishad (2 No. Bridge) fifth.

The event was inaugurated by Biplab Saha, owner of the fashion brand Bishwarang, renowned fashion designer and singer. Special guests included Dr. Satyakam Chakraborty, former Director of the Health and Education Division of the Directorate General of Health Services, and Sarfaraz Ahmed Sharfu, Director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The programme was chaired by journalist and human rights activist S.K. Das Suman. Rupam Acharya, founder and director of Debi Moncho, was also present. Suchitra Deb Suchi, director and chief coordinator of the event, delivered the welcome address, while Anita Deb conducted the programme.

In his inaugural speech, Biplab Saha said that Durga Puja represents a unique expression of Bengali art, culture and creativity. From idol-making to pandal decoration, every aspect involves the talent, hard work and dedication of artists and craftsmen. He expressed hope that such initiatives would recognize and encourage their creative contributions while inspiring the younger generation to engage with art and culture.

BCB Director Sarfaraz Ahmed Sharfu said that the Sharadiya Durga Puja carries messages of joy, harmony and goodwill. He noted that such competitions create an environment of healthy competition and creativity among different puja committees. He also expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute positively to Sreemangal's cultural landscape.

In his presidential address, S.K. Das Suman said that the beauty of idols and puja mandaps goes beyond external decoration. It reflects the creativity of artists, the dedication of organizers and their collective efforts. He added that such initiatives not only recognize the contributions of artists and puja committees but also strengthen mutual harmony and goodwill.

The programme featured an award distribution ceremony, musical performances, dance presentations and a religious fashion show. People from different walks of life attended the event, making the auditorium lively and vibrant.

Representatives of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Sebashram said that securing second place in the Idol Beauty category was more than just an award for them. It was a valuable recognition of their collective efforts, creativity, dedication, devotion and sincerity.

They attributed the achievement to the tireless efforts and cooperation of the ashram members, along with the love, blessings and support of well-wishers. The members and volunteers expressed their gratitude to everyone whose hard work, time and dedication contributed to making this year's celebration successful.

They further said that winning an award is not the ultimate goal of any initiative. Their main objective is to uphold religious values, devotion, harmony and the ideals of humanitarian service. They expressed hope that, with the blessings of Goddess Durga, this achievement would inspire them to undertake more religious, spiritual and humanitarian activities in the future.

Rupam Acharya, founder and director of Debi Moncho, said on Saturday (October 31) that the organization began its journey on February 25, 2020. Since its inception, Debi Moncho has been working to support people through social and cultural activities while promoting heritage and culture. As part of this continued effort, the organization arranged ‘Sharad Sammanana-2026’ to mark the Durga Puja celebrations.

He said that Durga Puja is not merely a religious festival; it is also a remarkable expression of art, creativity, aesthetics and communal harmony. Behind every beautiful idol and well-decorated puja mandap are the hard work, talent and dedication of numerous artists, craftsmen and organizers. He added that the main objective of the event was to appropriately evaluate and recognize their creative contributions.

Rupam Acharya further said that Debi Moncho aims to move forward with everyone's love, cooperation and inspiration. If the support continues, the organization plans to arrange ‘Sharad Sammanana-2027, Season Two’ on a larger scale next year.

According to the organizers, during Durga Puja, different puja mandaps across Sreemangal were visited and evaluated. The judges considered various aspects, including the artistic beauty and craftsmanship of idols, mandap themes, aesthetics and decorations. The winners in the Best Idol and Best Puja Mandap categories were selected based on the judges' observations and assessments.

The organizers said that this was the first competition of its kind in the Sylhet Division. They hope the initiative will help highlight the artistic excellence, creativity and cultural heritage of Sreemangal's Durga Puja celebrations on a wider scale and continue in the coming years.