Puja Ghosh Mondal Wins ₹1 Crore in Nagaland Dear Horizon Weekly Lottery

CHINSURAH/KOHIMA: In a spectacular stroke of luck that has electrified the Hooghly district of West Bengal, Puja Ghosh Mondal has been officially crowned the jackpot winner of the Nagaland State Dear Horizon Friday Weekly Lottery. Mondal’s ticket, purchased for a mere ₹7, emerged as the sole claimant for the ₹1 Crore top prize during the high-stakes evening draw held on February 13, 2026.

The announcement was made during the official 8:00 PM broadcast by the Directorate of Nagaland State Lotteries. The winning ticket, No: 88H 35781, transformed a routine Friday into a historic milestone for the Mondal family, marking one of the most significant lottery wins in the region this year.

From Everyday Struggles to a ‘Crorepati’ Milestone

Puja Ghosh Mondal, a resident of Hooghly, West Bengal, joins a growing list of individuals from the state who have found financial salvation through the North-Eastern state’s lottery system. For many families in the semi-urban belts of Bengal, the “Dear” lottery series is often viewed as a “destiny-changer.”

Upon receiving confirmation of her win, Puja expressed a mix of disbelief and immense relief. “I bought the ticket on a whim, never truly expecting that our lives would change so drastically overnight. This win is a blessing that will allow us to secure our future, provide better opportunities for our children, and finally move past our financial hurdles,” she shared with local representatives.

The Anatomy of the Win: Ticket 88H 35781

The “Dear Horizon Friday Weekly Lottery” is a premier event in the Nagaland state-run lottery calendar. Known for its transparency and wide reach, the 8:00 PM draw is a daily ritual for millions of hopefuls across India where paper lotteries are legal.

Draw Date: February 13, 2026 (Friday)

Draw Time: 08:00 PM

Ticket Name: Dear Horizon Weekly

Ticket Number: 88H 35781

First Prize: ₹1,00,00,000 (One Crore)

The results were cross-verified by government auditors and instantly published on authorized digital platforms like “Lottery Sambad,” ensuring the integrity of the selection process.

The Path to the Payout: What Lies Ahead?

For jackpot winners like Puja Ghosh Mondal, the transition from winning to receiving the actual prize money involves a strict administrative protocol. Under the rules governed by the Nagaland State Lottery Department, the winner must initiate a formal claim within 30 days of the draw.

The Growing Footprint of Nagaland Lotteries in West Bengal

The Nagaland State Lottery remains the most popular regulated gaming system in West Bengal. Its success is rooted in its accessibility—with tickets priced at just ₹6 or ₹7—and the trust built through decades of prompt payouts. While the lottery is often a subject of debate, for winners like Puja Ghosh Mondal, it represents a tangible “quantum leap” from middle-class aspirations to true financial freedom.