Idol making at the final stage
Idols makers are passing busy hours to complete the orders as preparations to welcome the Hindu goddess Durga ahead of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindus.
The festival will begin on October 15 with Maha Sashthi and end with Bijaya Dashami on October 19 with the immersion of the idol.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Our Tangail Correspondent reports: This year, Durga Puja will be held at 1,162 mandops in 12 upazilas of the district, said Prodip Kumar Goon Jhantu, secretary of the district's puja celebration committee.
Visiting different areas of Sadar and Delduar upazilas, this correspondent saw idol makers passing busy time to complete their work at mandops in Boro Kalibari, Sabalia, Thana Para, College Para, Registry Para, Paradise Para, Bajitpur, Anayetpur, Sakrail, Santosh, Palpara, Baghil, Karatia, Pathrail areas.
Artisan Asim Paul was seen painting earthen statues of goddess Durga for seven puja mandops in Tangail, including the one at Purbo Adalatpara, the largest mandop in the town.
"Idol making is my ancestral profession," he said.
Sanjit Kumar Roy, superintendent of police in Tangail, said they will arrange three-tier security measures to ensure safety in the puja mandop area.
Our Correspondent, Mymensingh: Artisans in the district famous for making quality idols get orders from other districts including Netrakona, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Gaibandha, Pabna and Sirajganj every year, said workers at Dharmashala Temple in Jubilee Ghat area of the town.
“I have already completed the statue structures and the painting work is going on. The business is better this year,” said Shambhu Das, proprietor of Sanjeeb Mrittika Shilpalaya in the town's Rambabu Road.
Workers at the farm, Sanjit Kuamr Pal from Jamalpur and Kartik Pal from Tarakanda upazila of Mymensingh said they engage in the work for four months every year and get a good profit.
“We hope a reasonable earning as the number of puja mandops and the rate for idol making have increased this year,” said Joyonta Kumar Ghosh, a leading artisan in Mymensingh.
“There are some 200 workers at different farms in and outside the town. A worker is paid Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 per month for making idols,” he said.
Local people said most colourful puja mandops are set up at Aloka-Nodi Bangla Complex, Thanar Ghat, Dalpatti, Jilapipatti, Biswanath Mandir and Raghunath Jeur Akhara of the town.
A total of 765 puja mandops will be set up in the district this year, said Shankar Saha, organising secretary of district puja celebration committee.
Our Lalmonirhat Correspondent reports: The craftsmen in five upazilas in the district are having a busy time to make the clay images of Durga and other deities who will be worshipped in the temples by the devotees.
Craftsman Kartik Chandra Barmon, 35, at Nabintari village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila said his three-member team was making different images at eight temples in different areas of the district.
“A team of three to five people need eight to ten days for making a big image and five to six days for smaller images. Our charge varies from Tk 20,000 to Tk 35,000 excluding the supply of materials and other expenses,” said Narayan Chandra Roy, a craftsman at Saptana village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upzaila.
“In the district, 417 puja mandops are being set up this time. Like previous years, the well decorated mandops and the best artisans will be awarded,” said Hiralal Roy, president of district puja celebration committee.
Our Jhenidah Correspondent adds: All preparations have been taken to ensure smooth celebration of Durga Puja at 450 mandops in six upazilas of the district, said Jhenidah Puja Udjapan Committee secretary Prafulla Sarkar.
“Bamboo, straw, nail, thread, earth, lime, ornaments, saree and colour are needed to make Durga idols. We have to pay Tk 50,000 to the sculptor for making two idols at Kaliganj,” said Panchanan Biswas, vice chairman of Nishchintapur puja celebration committee in Kaliganj upazila.
“Our four-member team is making six idols this year. Of them two in Kaliganj and the rest two are in Jashore. Around 80 sculptors are busy in making idols in Jhenidah,” said sculptor Arabindu Paul.
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