3,208 mandaps in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI: Artists and idol-makers commonly known as pals are passing their busy times in giving final touch to the idol of the goddess Durga here as the largest festival of the Bengali Hindu community is knocking at the door, reports BSS.
With barely over a three days left for the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, the Pals are working round the clock to make sure that the idols are ready in time. Tapan Kumar Sen, trustee of Hindu Religion Welfare Trust, told BSS that the
Durga puja will be celebrated in more than 3,208 Puja mandaps in Rajshahi division from October 18 to 22. Respective district administration sources said that special security measures will be taken and traffic management would be ensured during the Puja festival.
Around 500 idol-makers are engaged in making idols for Durga Puja in the region. The Pals hope for earning better profits this year as the number of puja mandaps have increased in the region. They will get good return as the price of each idol has increased from Taka 4,000 to Taka 6,000.
The number of orders for making idols is increasing gradually. Yet, it would be difficult for many to run families with what they would earn from their works. Kartik Paul, an idol maker of Alupotti area of the city, who received order for making several idols, said the cost of raw materials including earth, rope, straw, bamboo and jute for idol shave have highly increased but their remuneration has remained the same for the last several years.
"Now I have very little time to sleep as the idols are to be completed as per work orders. However, our business suffers this season due to increase in sculptors' charges and high prices of raw materials," said Kartik.
"Five to eight workers need 10-15 days for making a large idol while smaller ones need around two weeks each," he added. He further informed that about one hundred Pal groups are now busy making idols for mandaps in
Rajshahi and they have already completed 60 per cent work of idol making. Swapon Ghosh, a devotee, who supervises a puja mandap in Kumarpara area of the city, informed that preparations for the upcoming Durga Puja have become costlier due to high price of the raw materials as well as increased charges of idol makers, purohits and dhakis.
Meanwhile, the city has already started getting a festive look as temples are being lighted with colorful lights and mandaps are being set up in the division.
Busy giving last touch of their brush to the idols, the idol-makers said they are pleased with the orders they have received from places both within and outside the district like Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Natore, Bogra, Joypurhat, Pabna and Sirajganj.
Md Shamsuddin, Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, said special security measures have been taken in the division for peaceful celebration of 'Sharodiya Durga Puja.’

3,208 mandaps in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI: Artists and idol-makers commonly known as pals are passing their busy times in giving final touch to the idol of the goddess Durga here as the largest festival of the Bengali Hindu community is knocking at the door, reports BSS. With barely over a three days left for the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, the Pals are working round the clock to make sure that the idols are ready in time. Tapan Kumar Sen, trustee of Hindu Religion Welfare Trust, told BSS that the Durga puja will be celebrated in more than 3,208 Puja mandaps in Rajshahi division from October 18 to 22. Respective district administration sources said that special security measures will be taken and traffic management would be ensured during the Puja festival. Around 500 idol-makers are engaged in making idols for Durga Puja in the region. The Pals hope for earning better profits this year as the number of puja mandaps have increased in the region. They will get good return as the price of each idol has increased from Taka 4,000 to Taka 6,000. The number of orders for making idols is increasing gradually. Yet, it would be difficult for many to run families with what they would earn from their works. Kartik Paul, an idol maker of Alupotti area of the city, who received order for making several idols, said the cost of raw materials including earth, rope, straw, bamboo and jute for idol shave have highly increased but their remuneration has remained the same for the last several years. Now I have very little time to sleep as the idols are to be completed as per work orders. However, our business suffers this season due to increase in sculptors charges and high prices of raw materials, said Kartik. Five to eight workers need 10-15 days for making a large idol while smaller ones need around two weeks each, he added. He further informed that about one hundred Pal groups are now busy making idols for mandaps in Rajshahi and they have already completed 60 per cent work of idol making. Swapon Ghosh, a devotee, who supervises a puja mandap in Kumarpara area of the city, informed that preparations for the upcoming Durga Puja have become costlier due to high price of the raw materials as well as increased charges of idol makers, purohits and dhakis. Meanwhile, the city has already started getting a festive look as temples are being lighted with colorful lights and mandaps are being set up in the division. Busy giving last touch of their brush to the idols, the idol-makers said they are pleased with the orders they have received from places both within and outside the district like Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Natore, Bogra, Joypurhat, Pabna and Sirajganj. Md Shamsuddin, Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, said special security measures have been taken in the division for peaceful celebration of Sharodiya Durga Puja.