Kolkata: Eight Kolkata Durga Pujas have been shortlisted for grants under the inaugural Durga Puja Adani Preview 2026, selected from more than 70 applications received for the initiative.The artists behind the eight selected pujas will each receive Rs 10 lakh to pursue their art, while the corresponding Durga Puja committees will each receive Rs 15 lakh in support of their puja presentation and organisational efforts.The selected pujas will also feature in the Durga Puja Adani Preview 2026, a three-night public preview to be held on Oct 10, 11 and 12, ahead of the main puja days.The preview has been designed to allow visitors to experience the artistry and stories behind the selected installations before the city enters the peak festive period.The pujas have been selected by an independent four-member jury, comprising artist and sculptor Paresh Maity, industrialist and cultural patron Harshavardhan Neotia, architect and urban designer Abin Chaudhuri and Kolkata restorer and heritage conservationist Mudar Patherya.The selection was conducted independently, with the jury assessing the entries on parameters such as creative approach, craftsmanship, sustainability, reputational track record and the cultural narratives embedded in Kolkata’s puja traditions.Adani had no role in choosing the shortlisted pujas.The selected artists and puja committees are Anirban Das for Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsav, Bhabatosh Sutar for Yuba Sangha, Debasis Barui for Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha, Eshika Chandra and Deep Das for Barisha Club, Pradip Das for Behala Club Sarbojonin, Purnendu Dey for Rajdanga Amra Kayjan Kalyan Samity, Raju Sarkar for Thakurpur State Bank Park Sarbojanin, and Sanatan Dinda for Nalin Sarkar Street Sarbojanin Durgatsob Samity. The initiative seeks to spotlight the artists, artisans, designers, organisers and neighbourhood communities, whose months of work shape Kolkata’s Durga Puja celebrations each year.While the finished pandals and installations are experienced by millions during the festival, the preview aims to offer visitors more time and space to engage with the ideas, materials, craft and human stories behind them.More than 30,000 visitors have registered for the preview, which will remain open from 6 pm to 4 am on all three nights. Entry to the event will be free with a preview pass, subject to capacity and applicable arrangements. The experience is also planned with the elderly and persons with disabilities in mind, aiming to make it more inclusive.
