Bengalis started celebrating their Durga Puja festival three days ahead with the victory of local boy Aneek Dhar in Zee TV'S popular talent hunt show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa'.

Festivities were on especially in the south Kolkata neighbourhood from where the musically talented Aneek Dhar hails.

Hundreds of people holding Dhar posters came out in processions in various localities across Kolkata, hailing the 18-year-old Lake Gardens youth who bagged the coveted crown of the reality show, recording more than 30.65 million votes Saturday.

"We are very proud that Aneek has won the award for the best singer of the 'Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge - 2007, Sangeet ka Pratham Vishwayudh' this year. It is considered the world cup of upcoming singers with many participating contenders coming from abroad," said Abhishek Majumdar of Jadavpur in south Kolkata.

He also pointed out that Aneek had earlier won the Bengali version of the 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa'.

Meanwhile, many residents of Lake Gardens and adjoining Jodhpur Park, which is Aneek's neighbourhood, came out on the streets with drums beating. They took out long processions and smeared one another with gulal (coloured powder) Sunday morning, celebrating their local boy's success.

In Kolkata's twin district Howrah, people burst crackers and set off fireworks Saturday night, as if Durga puja has already started three days before its schedule.

"The results of the reality show symbolised that Bengalis are once again set to rock Bollywood industry with their mesmerising voice. The recent victory of Prasant Tamang, a Kolkata police personnel, in Indian Idol and Aneek's success have proved that Bengalis still enjoy the top rank in India's music industry," Mallar Mitra, a fan of Aneek, said.

"We should also remember both Debojit and Sanchita Bhattacharya (the latter hails from Howrah) who won Zee TV's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' and 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champ' respectively last year, are also Bengalis," Mitra said.