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Eco-friendly Durga Puja: National Jute Board sets up 15 stalls in Kolkata pandals, runs Rs 1.5 lakh contest

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An eco-friendly Durga Puja drive by the National Jute Board (NJB) is putting jute at the centre of this year’s celebrations in West Bengal, the Ministry of Textiles said on 16 October 2026. The board has helped set up 15 dedicated jute diversified product stalls at selected Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata and is running a contest for pandals decorated with jute. The board says it wants to place sustainability at the heart of the state’s most celebrated festival.

eco-friendly Durga Puja: Jute decorations inside a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata
Jute decorations inside a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

What the eco-friendly Durga Puja stalls show

The stalls display a wide range of jute products and uses, giving visitors a chance to see how versatile and useful the natural fibre can be. Jute is also being used in pandal decoration, in themed installations, wall coverings and detailed ornamental pieces, as an alternative to conventional decorative material. The ministry said the stalls are meant to raise awareness among buyers and encourage people to use jute products in daily life. The Millennium Post reported the same details of the drive, and The Statesman has also reported on the push to use jute in puja decoration.

Key Facts

  • Organiser: National Jute Board, Ministry of Textiles
  • Jute product stalls in Kolkata pandals: 15
  • Contest: Eco-friendly Durga Puja Pandals with Jute Contest 2026
  • Prizes: Rs 1.50 lakh, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 75,000 + five of Rs 25,000
  • Announced: 16 Oct 2026

Jute pandal contest and prize money

To reward puja committees that take part, the NJB is holding the ‘Eco-friendly Durga Puja Pandals with Jute Contest 2026’. Entrants must prominently use jute fabric, yarn or fibre, or a mix of these, in their decorations. Pandals will be judged on how much jute they use and on artistic appeal, innovation and creativity. The first prize is Rs 1.50 lakh, the second Rs 1 lakh and the third Rs 75,000, with five consolation prizes of Rs 25,000 each. The board said the contest is meant to create friendly competition among committees while showing what sustainable design with natural fibres can look like.

Why jute matters for Durga Puja 2026

Jute is biodegradable, renewable and recyclable, so it can replace some of the plastic and synthetic materials that are widely used in festive decorations. The ministry said using it can reduce waste and the environmental impact of large celebrations. Durga Puja is one of West Bengal’s biggest cultural events and a major platform for artists, so using jute in pandals also showcases the skills of artisans. Wider use of jute products in decor creates demand for diversified jute goods and new work for artisans, designers and small businesses linked to the sector, which supports livelihoods across the jute value chain in Bengal. The ministry said the NJB and the government want to strengthen the use of jute in everyday life and expand its uses beyond conventional products.

Why It Matters: Durga Puja draws millions of visitors, so swapping plastic decor for jute can cut festival waste and create demand for Bengal's jute workers.

Also on TrendDesh: World Standards Day 2026: BIS launches Silver Refinery Scheme to hallmark silver bars and coins · Chennai Port marks 145th Port Day after record 57.90 million tonnes of cargo in 2025-26

Source: PIB (Ministry of Textiles) · Millennium Post · The Statesman

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