Jharsuguda: The first-ever Jharsuguda Ganesh Puja Awards 2026 concluded on a grand note, with Housing Board Colony Ganesh Puja Committee winning the Best Pandal and Decoration award and Radha Madhav Mandir Ganesh Puja Committee, Purunabasti, emerging winner in the Best Ganesh Idol category.
The awards, organised by the Jharsuguda Puja Awards Committee comprising Siddharth Awasthy, Ritesh Sharma and Krishna Mundra, were presented at a grand cultural award ceremony held on October 3, 2026, at the MCL Auditorium, Beheramal, Jharsuguda.
Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy attended the programme as chief guest, while Jharsuguda SP G R Raghavendra, IPS, was the guest of honour.
The competition was conducted through an online voting system across three major categories. A total of 66,963 votes were cast by 23,772 people, reflecting wide public participation in the inaugural edition of the awards.
Housing Board Colony received a cash award of Rs 31,000 for Best Pandal and Decoration, while Sri Sri Ganesh Puja Committee, Purunabasti, which had created a Tirupati-themed pandal, was runner-up with Rs 15,000.
Radha Madhav Mandir Ganesh Puja Committee won Rs 21,000 for Best Ganesh Idol, while Brother’s Club, BTM, received Rs 11,000 as runner-up.
In the Cleanest and Most Disciplined Pandal category, Shiv Shakti Navyuvak Sangh, Mangal Bazar, won the first prize of Rs 11,000, while Vighnahartha Club, Kalimandir, received Rs 5,100.
The Best Visarjan award was jointly won by DX Club, Buromal, and Sri Sri Ganesh Puja Committee, Purunabasti, with each receiving Rs 11,000.
Seven special jury awards carrying Rs 5,100 each were also presented. Radha Madhav Ganesh Puja Committee, Vivekanand Club, Brundaban Yuva Shakti Club and Thana Chowk Ke Raja received awards for creative pandals, while Jai Mata Di Club, The King of Mangal Bazar-Star Club and Sri Singhvahini Ganesh Puja Anusthan were recognised for creative Ganesh idols.
In the overall vote tally across the three major categories, Housing Board Ganesh Puja Committee topped with 13,230 votes, followed closely by Radha Madhav Mandir Ganesh Puja Committee with 13,163 votes. Sri Sri Ganesh Puja Committee secured 6,440 votes, Brothers Club 6,020 votes and DX Club 5,609 votes.
A special moment of the evening came when Radha Madhav Mandir Ganesh Puja Committee voluntarily donated its entire Rs 21,000 prize money towards the treatment of Trisha, a child from Jajpur who requires substantial financial assistance for medical treatment.
The Jharsuguda District Police was also felicitated for maintaining law and order and ensuring the peaceful conduct of Ganesh Puja celebrations and immersion activities.
Cultural performances were presented by Prince Dance Group, Aman Chatterjee, Ruby’s Natyam Dance Academy and Brundaban Studio. The programme was anchored by Jayant Nanda and lecturer Suchismita Guru.
Jharsuguda Municipality vice-chairman Raju Panigrahi and several prominent citizens were among those present. Members of Brahman Mahila Samiti, JCI Achievers and Rotary Club of Jharsuguda Green, among other social organisations, also attended the ceremony.
The organisers said the first edition of the awards was conceptualised to promote Jharsuguda’s festive culture, encourage creativity, cleanliness and discipline among puja committees, and provide a transparent platform for public participation.
The event was supported by Mundra Fashion Mart, Mohini Royale and Tulja Silver Jewellery.
