Durga Puja 2025: OTV’s ‘Ama Sahi Medha’, an initiative to preserve cultural grandeur & innovation

In a vibrant culmination of festive spirit, OTV's Dussehra special initiative ‘Ama Sahi Medha 2025’ celebrated the best Durga Puja mandaps across Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

Also Read: OTV’s Ama Sahi Medha 2025 crowns best Durga Puja Committees of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar

From magnificent gates to dazzling lighting, intricate jewellery work to grand medhas, the contest showcased the very best of the Twin Cities’ festive traditions.

The recognition aims to encourage local communities to preserve the cultural grandeur and innovation that Durga Puja brings every year.

A total of 14 outstanding puja committees—seven each from the twin cities—were honoured for their excellence in creativity, decoration, and cultural engagement.

In Cuttack, the following puja mandaps were awarded:

1.    Best Bhog: Alisha Bazaar Puja Committee
2.    Best Dussehra Medha: Phiringi Bazaar Puja Committee
3.    Best Jewellery Decoration: Mangalabag Durga Puja Samiti
4.    Best Event/Cultural: Khan Nagar-Khapuria Industrial Estate Puja Committee
5.    Grand Medha: Ranihat Durga Puja Committee
6.    Best All-Rounder: Malgodown Puja Committee
7.    Best Puja Committee: Choudhury Bazaar Durga Panchayat Committee

From Bhubaneswar, awards under different categories went to:

1.    Best Puja Gate: Sahid Nagar Durga Puja Samiti
2.    Best Decoration: Bomikhal Durga Puja Samiti
3.    Best Lighting: Patharagadia Kalinga Durga Puja Committee
4.    Best Theme: Rasulgarh Durga Puja Committee
5.    Best Side Deities: VSS Nagar Durga Puja Samiti
6.    Best Mina Bazaar: Nayapalli Durga Puja Samiti
7.    Most Creative Theme: Old Station Bazaar Puja Committee

Judging for the best pandals was carried out through a transparent process, with eminent personalities. Renowned artist Gajendra Sahu and internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik visited several pandals and evaluated the entries. Their assessment was combined with public opinion to finalise the results.

“The Puja Committees, both in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, have come up with unique ideas and themes. It was very tough to select the winners. For those who could not win, OTV has also arranged consolation prizes,” expressed Gajendra Sahu.

“I would like to thank OTV for such an innovative idea to encourage the Puja Mandaps. Selecting the winners was a very tough task. This contest is not just about choosing winners but about encouraging and recognising the Puja Committees,” said Sudarsan Pattnaik.