Durga Puja, the main religious festival of traditional religions, comes with the whiteness of autumn in nature. Dew-drenched mornings and autumn blossoms herald the arrival of the autumn festival. It is the belief of Sanatana religionists that Goddess Durga came from heaven to the mortal world for the suppression of evil and the observance of virtue.
Due to this, Hindus have been celebrating Durga Puja as an autumn festival every year. Around Durga Puja, the biggest festival of Hindus, the festive atmosphere is going on in Old Dhaka of the capital. Meanwhile, the artisans are busy making the idols of the pavilions here.
The main accessory of Durga Puja (Prayer) is the idol of Goddess Durga. Potters are busy making idols ahead of the festival. With the skillful hands of the potters, the clay idols are becoming beautiful. After making the idol with straw and clay, now the painting and coloring work is going on.
At the same time, extensive preparations are going on in the temples day and night to fully decorate the autumn festival. Goddess Durga should be taken to the mandap before the puja begins. Already the ground work of the structure of the statue is in the final stage. After that, the work of painting and decorating will begin.
Several puja mandaps of old Dhaka have been seen, the idol of Goddess Durga is being made with artistic touches of clay, bamboo, straw, twine. Artisans are busy day and night making idols. The artisans have no time to catch their breath. The artists are busy painting the goddess with the touch of clay and paint with skillful hands.
The work of making idols in each puja mandap is completed. Now these idols are being decorated with paint. From morning till night, some are making cloth, some are making arms and legs from cloth, and some are busy dyeing. Their artisans are also spending busy time with idol artists.
From early morning to late night, the artisans of idols are having a busy time. They are doing the work of making idols by mixing the sweetness of the mind perfectly. Idol artists do not have time to suffocate in their busy schedule. The idols of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Asura and other gods and goddesses are being made with the touch of skilled hands.
Goddess Durga and her charioteer are being made with the idol of the lion whom the goddess comes to earth, the idol of Mahishasura. Also being created are goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati, gods Kartika, Ganesha, and their vehicles owls, ducks, mice and peacocks. This is what can be seen around the idol making fields.
Meanwhile, at the landlord`s house on Northbrook Hall Road, Banglabazar, the work of dressing the statue of Durga along with the sari and ornaments has already been completed. Each mandap is decorated with lights and colored paper. Visitors are now roaming from mandap to mandap to see the idol.
The reading of kathi in the cover of Bengali Hindu festivals starts even before Shashti (The sixth Day). This year`s Durga Puja will begin with Shasthi Puja on October 1 (14th Ashwin BS) and end with Vijaya Dashami (The tenth day) on October 5 (18th Ashwin). Before this, the mood of the festival starts from Panchami. However, from Shashti onwards, the festival begins. According to the scriptures, Bodhan is celebrated on Mahasashti day of Durga Puja.
The most pujas in the capital are celebrated in Old Dhaka. This time puja will be organized in Oligli of Shankharibazar, Tantibazar, Laxmibazar, Sutrapur, Shyambazar, Paridas Road, Kaltabazar, Murgitola, Madanmohan Das Lane, Banglabazar Goarnagar, Zamindarbari, Gendaria, Dalpatti areas. Construction of stages, pandals, arches and idols has started in various small and big pavilions.
This year several other clubs including Navakallol Pooja Committee, Shree Shiv Mandir, Rivdi Club, Sanghamitra Puja Committee, Shree Sri Radha Madhav Jiu Dev Mandir, New Bud Puja Committee, Navabani Puja Committee, Ramakanta Nandilen Puja Committee have taken the initiative to organize Puja in Old Dhaka. However, big pujas are being organized at Shiv Mandir, Tanti Bazar, Sanga Mitra, Rival Club, Goalnagar Ghat, Julon Bari.
Artisans usually make idols in Ajanta style. These are known as oriental idols. Ajanta style idols are now in high demand. In such idols, the sarees, ornaments and ornaments are all done with clay and paint. Idol saree, ornaments, decoration materials have to be purchased separately.
The potters said that every year they eagerly wait for the work of making the idol of Goddess Durga. Not just for a living. Their religious feelings, devotion and love are associated with making idols of Goddess Durga. Durga Goddess is being made like a mother.
Sukumar Pal of Manikganj is making an idol of Goddess Durga in the pavilion of Sanghamitra Puja Committee of Shankharibazar. Along with the six idols here, he is making six more in Banani for this year`s Durgotsav.
Sukumar Pal said that these idols are being made from a minimum of 50 thousand to a maximum of 4 lakh. Balai Pal is a pottery artist who is busy painting the idols of the puja stubborn in the landlord`s house in Bangla Bazar.
He said, `Right now I am going through the busiest time of the year. Only a few days left for the puja. So there is no time to catch your breath. Meanwhile, all the work of making the idol of Goddess Durga should be completed.
While resting after work, idol artist Paltan Pal said, `No matter how much trouble I do, when the goddess is placed in her own form on the mandap, all the trouble will be removed. We love it the most when everyone worships the idol we make. Then I feel successful and worthwhile.
Shankhari Bazar`s idol artist Sushil Nandi passed away, now his daughter Anamika Nandi has taken the responsibility of making the idol of this mandap.
He said, I have been watching and learning this work from my father since birth. Initially straw, wood, bamboo, yarn, star are required. After drying the statue is painted.
Meanwhile Dashrath Pal is busy making several idols in the Jagannath apartment. He said that soil was brought from several places including Manikganj, Munshiganj, Paturia, Savar. And idols of mother are made with soil from all places.
Idol maker Nishi Pal said that the initial work of making idols with straw and clay is nearing completion. Now Durga will be decorated with colors and cotton scraps. Meanwhile, the cost of idol making materials is increasing every year. But not only to get the remuneration but also to get the mother`s devotion, they are working hard to make her appear in her true form.
About the organization of Durga Puja, the treasurer of Shiv Mandir Puja Committee, Debbrata Ghosh Gagan, said that there will be gathering of people from all walks of life in the Puja. It is the main religious festival of the Hindu community. Also, a large number of people from other religions participate in it. Therefore, all necessary measures will be taken keeping in mind everyone.
Incidentally, Durga Puja, the main Bengali festival, has been included in the UNESCO list. Durga Puja has been recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Festivals of only 6 countries in the world like France, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil, Bolivia have been recognized by UNESCO so far. Now Durga Puja has been added to that list.
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