HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Oct 16: A prize distribution ceremony for Durga Puja Committees under the jurisdiction of the Tezpur Development Authority was held on Tuesday evening at Conference Hall-2 in the Office of the District Commissioner, Sonitpur. The event was chaired by District Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das and attended by several dignitaries, including DDC Lakhinandan Saharia, ADCs Twahir Alam and Kamal Baruah, Deputy SP Durga Kingkar Sarmah, Circle Officer Madhurjya Buragohain, Assistant Commissioner Irish Arman Ahmed, Rajen Acharjya, DIPRO Ankita Gogoi, and representatives of various Puja Committees.
The event opened with a soulful rendition of the song “Mayabini” by Tezpur-based singer Kaushik Sarma, dedicated to late singer Zubeen Garg, whose recent passing cast a shadow over the Durga Puja festivities. In response to an earlier appeal by the District Commissioner, Puja Committees in Tezpur conducted their celebrations in a restrained, peaceful, and spiritual manner as a mark of respect to the artist.
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To promote safe, eco-friendly, and culturally sensitive festivities, the District Administration had formed a judging panel comprising noted figures such as artist Gyanendra Nath Bora, musician Sanjay Krishna Gohain, sculptor Nabanita Sarmah, cultural activist Sujit Ghosh, and Prayash secretary Pritom Bora.
Awards were presented to eight Puja Committees for their outstanding celebrations. Ketekibari Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee secured the first position, followed by Madhya Tezpur Yuba Sangha, Nepalipatty in second place. The third position was jointly awarded to Garuwanpatty Durga Mandap Committee (Ashok Chakra Club) and Bhairab Nagar Yubak Society, Durgabari. Oxford Club Durga Puja, Jahajghat, and Rubber Bagan Durga Puja Samiti (Chandi Mandap) jointly secured fourth place, while Sri Sri Durga Puja Committee, Uriumguri, Charimile and Sri Sri Durga Puja Samiti, Niz Halleswar shared the fifth position.
A Special Award was presented to young artist Pratibha Das for her remarkable portrait of Zubeen Garg at the Lalmati Puja Mandap, which drew widespread praise from the public.
In his address, DC Ananda Kumar Das praised all Puja Committees for organising disciplined and culturally rich celebrations, and thanked them for their collective tribute to Zubeen Garg. The district administration also felicitated the members of the judging panel for their contribution.
The event concluded with additional performances by singer Kaushik Sarma, who captivated the audience with songs in Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi, all originally sung by the late Zubeen Garg.
