Pabna Correspondent :
The biggest festival of the Hindu community Durga Puja is knocking at the door. In this connection, the pals (idol makers) are busy making idols of the deity Durga. The demand of pals reaches its peak during this time of the year. The festival will begin on October 19.
Due to decreased use of earthen essentials, most of the pals switched over to other professions. Some 100 pals out of about 600 are now involved in this profession, said Uttam Pal of Ekdanta under Pabna Sadar upazila to this correspondent.
Ganesh Chandra Ghose, president of Pabna District Puja Udjapon Parishad, said the Durga Puja will be held at 308 Puja Mandaps this year. Each pal takes contract of making idols for three to four temples.
Out of the 308 Puja Mandaps, 33 are in Pabna Municipality, 17 in Pabna Sadar, 25 in Iswardi, 57 in Sujanagar, 14 in Atghoria, 40 in Santhia, 40 in Chatmohor, 17 in Vangura, 17 in Faridpur and 50 in Bera upazilas of the district.
“I have prepared statues for five temples in the district headquarters this year. I am charging Tk 45,000 to 50,000 for each idol,” said Bishnu Pada Pal, an idol maker of Rajbari district. “I’m making idol for Joykali Temple and Central Temple of the district headquarters. The rest of the year, I do not earn enough; so this is the season for my annual income,” he said adding that after preparing the idols necessary decoration will start from next week.
Veteran artisan Dhananjay Kumar Pal sought government allocations to survive their traditional profession. Banking sectors can come forward in this connection, he added.
Proloy Kumar Chaki, secretary of Pabna Joy Kalibari temple said, “Decoration of temples, lightings and stages has already been started.”
The biggest festival of the Hindu community Durga Puja is knocking at the door. In this connection, the pals (idol makers) are busy making idols of the deity Durga. The demand of pals reaches its peak during this time of the year. The festival will begin on October 19.
Due to decreased use of earthen essentials, most of the pals switched over to other professions. Some 100 pals out of about 600 are now involved in this profession, said Uttam Pal of Ekdanta under Pabna Sadar upazila to this correspondent.
Ganesh Chandra Ghose, president of Pabna District Puja Udjapon Parishad, said the Durga Puja will be held at 308 Puja Mandaps this year. Each pal takes contract of making idols for three to four temples.
Out of the 308 Puja Mandaps, 33 are in Pabna Municipality, 17 in Pabna Sadar, 25 in Iswardi, 57 in Sujanagar, 14 in Atghoria, 40 in Santhia, 40 in Chatmohor, 17 in Vangura, 17 in Faridpur and 50 in Bera upazilas of the district.
“I have prepared statues for five temples in the district headquarters this year. I am charging Tk 45,000 to 50,000 for each idol,” said Bishnu Pada Pal, an idol maker of Rajbari district. “I’m making idol for Joykali Temple and Central Temple of the district headquarters. The rest of the year, I do not earn enough; so this is the season for my annual income,” he said adding that after preparing the idols necessary decoration will start from next week.
Veteran artisan Dhananjay Kumar Pal sought government allocations to survive their traditional profession. Banking sectors can come forward in this connection, he added.
Proloy Kumar Chaki, secretary of Pabna Joy Kalibari temple said, “Decoration of temples, lightings and stages has already been started.”
