Artisans in Raozan upazila of Chattogram are busy making Idols for Sharodiya Durga Puja, the main attraction of the biggest religious festival of Hindu community.
The factory artisans are working hard as they have to deliver the Idols to the devotees on time. They are making various Idols including idols of Durga, Saraswati, Kartik, Ganesh, Lakshmi with wood, straw, clay and threads. As the day of the Puja is nearing, these artisans are gradually becoming busier. They are working day and night to make the Idols. Although the work of making of the Idols with wood, straw, clay and thread is complete, the painting work is still going on.
When the correspondent visited the area, it was seen that the work of making Idols to celebrate Durga Puja is going on in various areas of Raozan upazila, including Kundeshwari, Sottyer Dokan, Raozan Fakir Hat Kalibari, Sultanpur Acharjya Para, Sultanpur Bura Thakur Ashram, Bainnya Pukur Par, Pahartoli Unshottor Para and Noapara Pother Hat.
Potter Nantu Pal, who makes Idol for the Raozan Fakir Hat Kalibari, said that just like the every year, I have taken order to make 20 Idols for Sharodiya Durga Puja. I charged Tk 30,000 to Tk 50,000 for each Idol. I have hired six staffs to deliver the Idol on time. The work of making Idols with bamboo, wood and clay is complete already. Now the Idols are being dried in the sun and the artists are drawing various Alpanas on the Idols using paint brushes. The potters are painting the Idols with brush to make them beautiful and attractive.
Another potter Prashanta Acharjya from Acharjya para at ward no. 6 in Raozan upazila said he makes 20 to 22 Durga Idols every year. This year, he took order for 20 Idols. He made 19 of them at his own factory. The remaining one was made at the client’s Mandap according to their own design.
Rupan Chakrabarty is an elderly potter who is busy making Idols at an Idol making factory at Dheuapara in ward no. 8 area under the municipality. He said he is making 11 Idols with the help of 12 staffs this year.
Potter Anil Pal from Palli Mangal Samiti area at Noapara Pother Hat said he took order for 40 Idols of various size and design for the upcoming Durga Puja. He charged Tk 30,000 to Tk 60,000 for each Idol according to their design. However, he would not have much profit left after giving paying the staffs. He had to hire 10 staffs for this job. He said ‘I am supporting my family with this work for 40 years. I make idols of various gods and goddesses all around the year to sell them. Sharodiya Durga Puja will be celebrated in 232 Mandaps in Raozan this year.’
Raozan Upazila Project Implementation Officer Muhammad Niaz Morshed said government allocates rice for the Mandaps during Durga Puja. This year, a list of 228 Puja Mandaps in Raozan municipality area and 14 unions of Raozan upazila has been received till now. The number may increase. The government will provide the allocation for the Puja Mandaps when the final list of Puja Mandaps is sent to the higher authority.
Raozan Upazila Nirbahi Officer Aonggyajai Marma said there will be strict administrative security in every Puja Mandap during the upcoming Durga Puja. They already exchanged views with the Puja Udjapon Committee.
