Registration for Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman from Sept 4

Kolkata: The state Information & Cultural Affairs department announced on Friday that the registration for the Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman (BBSS) awards 2017 for the best pujas in the city, the districts and overseas will begin from Monday.

The BBSS awards was introduced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the year 2013 for felicitating the best pujas across the state and also in abroad on various categories of Durga Puja. Minister of State for Information &

Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen said on Friday: "The names of the award winning puja committees will be announced on the day of Sasthi and Chief Minister will present the awards herself in a programme that will be held in the middle of October."

The categories on which the awards would be given include idol, pandal, theme, lighting, environment-friendliness, innovation, festival atmosphere, artisan, music and Biswa Bangla branding. Biswa Bangla as a brand is being promoted by the state government to promote all handloom and handicraft products of the state.

As many as 45 eminent persons and celebrities who have excelled in different fields will be in the panel of judges. "Every year we receive more than 1,000 entries. We hope that the response will be same this year too," Sen said.

The entries will be accepted from September 4 to 14. Forms can be submitted online and also can be directly submitted to the Kolkata Information Centre.

Sen also said that the parade with the best pujas in the city will be held on October 3 at Red Road.