Rangpur:Artisans are working long hours in Rangpur to complete Durga idols ahead of the Hindu community's largest religious festival. The image of Goddess Durga is gradually taking shape from clay, straw, and bamboo.
According to United News of Bangladesh, artisans are busy in workshops and temples across the Rangpur division, applying clay layers to frames and carefully shaping the idols’ features. The preparations are part of the celebrations set to take place at 5,753 mandaps in the region.
Painters are adding final touches, transforming rough clay into colorful depictions of Durga and her family. The pressure is mounting as the festival approaches, and artisans are racing against time to deliver idols to various mandaps.
The creation process involves building a basic structure with bamboo and straw, reinforcing it with twine, and then applying several clay layers. Once the clay hardens, artisans refine the features before painting and decorating. A complete set includes idols of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Ganesh, and other figures.
The artisans face economic challenges, with rising raw material costs and stagnant payments from puja committees affecting their earnings. Artisan Biren Nath noted that despite completing most of his orders, the lack of increased budgets from committees leaves little profit. It takes two months or more to create a complete idol.
Another artisan, Sabuj Chandra Sen, highlighted that rising essential goods prices have increased production costs without a corresponding rise in wages. Despite the hard work, profits are unlikely to increase.
For Naresh Pal, idol-making is intrinsic to the region's art and heritage. Though the process is painstaking, the joy in seeing completed idols appreciated makes it worthwhile.
The festival will formally begin with Mahalaya on October 10, followed by a series of events until Bijoya Dashami on October 21. Besides idol-making, efforts are underway to decorate mandaps and ensure smooth festivities.
Rangpur division's Puja Udjapan Parishad president, Ramjiban Kundu, stated that meetings with district administrations and police have been held to ensure the festival's smooth celebration. Security measures are being coordinated with puja committees to maintain law and order during the event.