Kolkata Police to hold photo competition for pandal-hoppers

Kolkata: Creating a wonderful opportunity for the pandal-hoppers who love capturing the idols of Devi Durga through their lenses to get rewarded for their photographic skills, Kolkata Police has decided to award cash prize to the three best photographs from the city and the best photograph from the district level.

"The competition, titled 'Lenser Lorai', is a move to encourage the pandal-hoppers happily capturing in their cameras hundreds and thousands of idols, decked up in colourful splendour all across the city. This is the second year that we will be hosting such a contest," a senior police officer said.

Kolkata Police has shared the details of the contest through its Facebook page. The subject for this year is 'Idol of Goddess Durga'. Contestants can send just one entry on each of the three days on October 16, 17 and 18, at kpsocialmediacell@gmail.com which means that a contestant can send at most three photographs during the Puja. The date, time and place of the capture must be mentioned along with the name, address and contact number of the applicant. The captures can be of idols within the jurisdiction of Kolkata Police, as well as from the districts.

The contest opens at 12 noon on Saptami (October 16) and closes at midnight on Navami (October 18). The panel of judges will comprise eminent names from the cultural world. The results will be announced on the first week of November. The top three entries from Kolkata will be awarded Rs 25,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively and the best click from the districts will be awarded Rs 25,000.