The left-hander has been feted and felicitated ever since he struck a flowing century on his Test debut, against England at Lord's, earlier this month and followed it up with yet another hundred in the next Test. And on Sunday, the carnival continued, with Saurav getting honoured by the government of his native state, West Bengal.

State Chief Minister Jyoti Basu Ganguly with a cheque for Rupees 100,000, and a memento commemorating his maiden Test hundred at Lord's.

Speaking on the occasion, veteran cricketer Pankaj Roy - one of the few players who has constantly supported Ganguly even through his earlier trials and tribulations - said that Saurav Ganguly was ``a symbol of Bengali pride, as he ably proved that apart from soccer, Bengalis could excel in cricket, in which game the community has till now been considered a pushover.''

BCCI general secretary Jagmohan Dalmiya, speaking on the occasion, said he held his head high at Lord's after Saurav's sparkling century there. ``The success of a player is much greater than the success of an administrator, `` Dalmiya said, adding, ``Saurav has miles to go now. He has also strongly denied the misinformation that his inclusion in the side was on the quota system.''

Chief minister Jyoti Basu, hailing Saurav Ganguly as a 'pride of Bengal' said that the people had felicitated this latest cricket icon with their heartfelt love much before any official ceremony.

Saurav, in a brief speech, thanked the people of his native state for all their love. He was later mobbed by autograph hunters, who gave a tough time to the securitymen. The function concluded with a video clip featuring excerpts from the Bengal batsman's debut hundred at Lord's.