Siliguri, 17th October: The West Bengal government’s Information and Cultural Affairs Department on Friday announced the winners of Devi Durga Samman 2026 at a programme held in Siliguri. Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh announced the names of 12 Durga Puja committees selected across four categories. Each winning club will receive a trophy along with a cash prize of ₹50,000.
In the Best Puja (Sera Puja) category, Mitra Sammelani, Dadabhai Sporting Club and Uttorayon Durga Puja Committee from Siliguri were selected for the honour. In the Best Idol (Sera Pratima) category, Darjeeling Chowrasta Puja, Bharat Nagar Tarun Tirth Club of Siliguri and Sanjivani Sangha of Kurseong were selected.
In the Best Puja Pandal (Sera Mandap) category, Rathkhola Sporting Club, Subrata Sangha and Kharibari Yuva Sampraday were chosen. In the Social Awareness (Sera Samaj Sachetanata) category, Lower Bagdogra Sarbajanik Durga Puja Committee, Sanghashree of Siliguri and Suryanagar Friends Union Club were selected.
Speaking at the programme, Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh said the awards aim to encourage puja committees that have performed well in organising Durga Puja, idol-making, pandal decoration and social awareness initiatives. He said the selected committees are being recognised for their outstanding work across the four categories.
Previously, Durga Puja committees in the state were honoured with the Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman. This year, the Information and Cultural Affairs Department has introduced the awards under the name Devi Durga Samman 2026.
