Agartala, Oct 23: The Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) will host the third edition of *Sharad Samman 2025* on October 25, honouring excellence in Durga Puja celebrations across the city. The event aims to celebrate creativity, community participation, and adherence to civic norms during the festival.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha will inaugurate the award ceremony at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan (Hall No. 1). Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, and other dignitaries will also grace the occasion.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Mayor Dipak Majumder announced the event details and revealed the list of winners. Deputy Mayor Manika Das Dutta, MIC members, corporators, and senior AMC officials were also present. Majumder said preparations were in full swing to make this year’s event more vibrant and inclusive than ever before.
The *Sharad Samman* awards will recognize Durga Puja clubs across four AMC zones—Central, North, East, and South—in four categories: Best Idol, Best Mandap, Best Lighting, and Best Theme. Each zonal winner will receive ₹25,000 and a trophy, while five top-performing clubs citywide will get ₹50,000 each along with a trophy.
The Mayor assured complete transparency in the selection process, stating that independent juries assessed all registered clubs without AMC’s interference.
A special honour will also be presented to Shibnagar Mahila Puja Committee for being the best women-led Puja, highlighting the increasing role of women in community festivities.
Among the zonal winners are Surjyatarun Club, Albert Club, Sphulinga Club, and Udayaman Sangha (Best Idol); while Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Club, Kunjaban Sporting Club, Flowers Club, and Cosmopolitan Club will receive the citywide “Best of Best” awards.
In all, 21 awards will be presented, showcasing Agartala’s artistic brilliance and festive spirit.
