Idol-makers in Dinajpur strive to sustain their ancestral profession

An idol-maker at work

Disheartened by bleak conditions, at least 7,000 idol-makers of greater Dinajpur region are contemplating moving away from their ancestral profession. The tradition of idol-making is deeply rooted in the biggest Hindu festivals. But due to the rise in prices of raw materials, menacing middlemen and virtually no job prospect for over eight months every year, they are being forced to give up the profession.
The annual 'Durga Puja' is like a ray of hope to the artisans, as they get busy moulding idols of the goddess. The biggest religious festival of Bengali Hindus is also the major source of income for these artisans.
Dinajpur has been renowned for its Durga idols for centuries. “We are dependent on the middlemen, who take away the cream of our benefit, as they have all the contacts and information on the buyers. We never receive fair price for our idols,” alleged a veteran artisan Aneel Pal.
To keep the art-form alive, active participation of the younger generation is necessary. Unfortunately, younger artisans are gradually moving to other professions due to lack of income for at least six months every year.
Aneel Pal also complained that, the idols cost between Tk 1 to 3 lakh, depending on size and other specifications. But the artisans hardly get one-forth of the actual price, thanks to the middleman.
Some artisans fear that with the passing away of veteran idol-makers, there will be no one left in this industry that would be able to make Durga Idols.
Most idol-makers living in rural areas are illiterate, and have taken up pottery to supplement their income. Some of them sell puja-related items too.
Artisans also allege that price hike of raw materials makes it difficult to make idols around the year. It would help a lot if the government provided interest-free long-term loan to save their ancestral profession, added Shamol Chandra Roy, another Dinajpur artisan.
According to the artisans, an idol maker can hardly earn Taka 20,000 to 50,000 every year and what they earn is too little to sustain their families.