Musicians ushering in puja get a raw deal

Men of much music and little mirth. Photo: STAR

Traditional instruments add to the festivity of the five-day Durga Puja. However, the honorarium given to the artistes is not anywhere near adequate in many cases.
Some 4000 artistes who play dhak, dhol and flute perform at around 525 puja mandap here, including 42 in the district town. The artistes come here every year on the occasion of Durga Puja from different parts of the country -- Dhaka, Bikrampur, Rajendrapur, Sirajganj, Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Kishoreganj, Netrakona, Jamalpur, Tangail, Bogra and Rangpur.
Md. Nasim Khan, a dhol player from Sirajganj, said that he came here with a group of six, and was on contract for five days with the Swadeshi Bazar Puja committee for Tk 18,000. “We will have to spend Tk 500 per person, for travel and other expenses,” said Siraj Khan, another musician. He said that the amount they receive is not reasonable.
Shyamol Das, another artiste, told this correspondent that sometimes they do not fuss about the money, as it is the peak season for gigs.
Basudev Moni Das and his younger brother Pradip Moni Das who hail from Bikrampur also have a contract with a puja committee for five days. "We will get Tk 11,000 to play dhak, the main instrument of this celebration," said Basudev. He also informed that he is a furniture maker and occasionally plays dhak as the art runs in his family. Basudev said that the remuneration should be increased, as the artistes cannot survive in this profession now.
Debesh Das and Satya Ranjan Das hail from Sadar upazila. At the Durgabari Temple, they said that they have a group of three and made a contact for Tk 9,500. "As we regularly play dhak here, we can not bargain with the committee for more money," said Debesh Das.
The musicians however said that they enjoy the celebration. The puja committees make all arrangements for their food and accommodation they said.