Welcoming ceremony of Durga Puja, organized by Narayani Namstute Global Durga Puja Excellence Awards
“With the beats of the drums, the festivities have begun!” This saying resonates deeply, especially on the evening of September 21, 2024, at the Muktodhara Auditorium in New Delhi. The welcoming ceremony for Durga Puja, organized by Narayani Namstute Global Durga Puja Excellence Awards, infused the atmosphere with celebration and joy, truly marking the arrival of Puja.
The event kicked off with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, casting a warm glow over the proceedings. Uplifting recitations by Sri Sauvik Acharya and melodious arrival songs and poems by Nabnita Chatterjee further enriched the experience. Attendees included distinguished personalities from Delhi and NCR, such as Padma Shri Biman Bihari Das, Sri Tamal Dutta, Sri Uday Shankar, Sri Subrata Das, Sri Supriyo Halder, Sri Sudhakar Das, Sri Anuj Chakraborty, Sri Kaushik Guha Roy, and Mithu Chatterjee, the founder.
A significant highlight this year was the launch of the “Voice of Woman” (VOW) platform, which honored the esteemed Taslima Nasrin. Additionally, individuals and organizations from various sectors received recognition through the “NN Shakti Awards-Pride of Bharat’24,” including Padma Shri Smt. Rita Ganguly, Smt. Sharmistha Dasgupta, Ms. Dimpi, Maj. Gen. Dr. G. D. Bakshi, Joy Chatterjee, and Sri Tarit Mitra, along with Endure Air (Start-up India).
The evening also featured the official launch of the theme song, performed by Basudhara Ray Munsi, and the entire music composed & arranged by Saurasanta Biswas, alongside the unveiling of the official banner and various awards acknowledging the efforts of Puja committee organizers. The honored organizers expressed their heartfelt gratitude, emphasizing that this recognition would motivate them to elevate their future endeavors.
In these challenging times for society, Narayani Namstute has taken a unique initiative to unite Puja committees from local and international spheres under one roof. A special highlight of the evening was the captivating performances by ‘Souro-O-Bondhura’ and Kolkata’s renowned band ‘Anindya – Shahar.’ Through songs, stories, poetry, and dialogue, the audience became one with the performances, often losing track of time.
The program was expertly hosted by Sirin Sarkar. Due to limited seating in the hall, additional chairs were arranged, and by the end of the event, doors were opened to accommodate more attendees. Many stood throughout the program, contributing to its overall success. Heartfelt gratitude is extended to all spectators and participants who played a role in making this event memorable.
Mithu Chatterjee, the founder, emphasized,
“We bring the vision to life, and you join in the celebration.”
