Jamshedpur: A meeting of Durga Puja Pandal organisers was convened on Thursday under the chairmanship of Executive Officer of Jugsalai Municipal Council, Sandeep Paswan, to ensure the smooth and successful organization of the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations.
Representatives from leading Puja committees under the Jugsalai Municipal Council, including Shri Shri Maa Vindhyavasini Durga Puja Committee, Jugsalai Durgabari, Shri Baikunth Dham Durga Puja Committee, Somnath Apartment Kali Puja Committee, Chhaparia Mohalla Durga Puja Committee, Shri Shri Maa Durga Puja Committee Jugsalai Phatak Golchakkar, and Shri Shri Mahakaleshwar Durga Puja Kali Puja Committee, attended the meeting along with the city manager, junior engineer, and other staff.
The Puja organizers raised several issues during the meeting, which were noted by the administration. A dedicated team was formed to address their concerns, and necessary assurances and guidelines were given to all committees.
As part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 and the “Swachhta Hi Seva – 2025” fortnight (September 17 to October 2), the Municipal Council has decided to organize a “Clean Puja Pandal Competition” under the theme of Swachhotsav 2025. The initiative aims to spread awareness on cleanliness and sustainable practices during the festive season, when large crowds and increased solid waste around pandals are common.
The evaluation of pandals will take place between September 28 and 30, based on a set of 17 cleanliness and eco-friendly parameters, carrying a total of 170 marks. These include the use of eco-friendly materials for pandal and idol construction, adoption of biodegradable and reusable products, proper entry and exit arrangements, presence of volunteers with ID cards, effective waste segregation, use of sufficient dustbins, awareness campaigns on cleanliness and plastic ban, spitting control, idol immersion at designated sites, and innovative efforts such as organizing green festivals or zero-waste celebrations.
The Puja pandals securing the first, second, and third positions in the competition will be awarded by the Municipal Council.
Executive Officer Sandeep Paswan stressed that this initiative is not only about maintaining cleanliness but also about instilling a sense of responsibility among citizens. “It is the collective duty of organizers and the public to ensure that our festivals are celebrated in an eco-friendly and hygienic manner. Through this competition, we want to set an example of community participation in the Swachh Bharat Mission,” he said.
