Labour of love for capital’s idol makers

NEW DELHI - They take long leaves from their jobs, set up shacks, at times travelling thousands of miles, passionate and devoted to what they do. Meet Delhi’s Durga Puja idol makers.

The ‘kumars’ as they are called throng the capital every year before the five-day autumn festival when beautiful idols of Godess Durga and her four children are installed and worshipped at colossal marquees.

Khokan Pal, 32, started making idols five years ago when he came to Delhi from a village in West Bengal. When he is not doing that, Pal dabbles between being a labourer at construction sites and riding a cycle rickshaw in Delhi University.

A month before Durga Puja, he takes a break from his routine, and rents a shack on the busy Kishangarh-Vasant Kunj road in south Delhi to make puja idols.

Delhi’s strong Bengali population is passionate about Durga puja. Hundreds of small and big pandals come up across the city, and for a week or so the festival fever grips the community.

“I save money the whole year so that I can devote this month to idol making. I enjoy it. It’s a small venture, with my brother pitching in to help. It gives me immmense satisfaction. It reminds me of my childhood,” said a nostalgic Pal.

The idols made in his shack are sent to places as far as Leh and Rajasthan — wherever there are sizeable Bengali communities.

Many Puja organisations in the city call seasoned artisans from West Bengal to make their idols. Many Kali temples and Bengali cultural groups in the city have a mix of idol makers from Kolkata and local craftsmen.

“I have been making Durga idols since the age of five. It’s in my blood, even my great grandfather used to make them. I look forward to making idols every year,” said Gopal Adhikari, a factory worker from Kolkata who made this year’s idol at Chittaranjan Park Kali Bari.

Like him, Toton Das, from Murshidabad in West Bengal, has his makeshift tent near Kali Bari in Noida, at the edge of Delhi.

“Every year, I try to come up with a different costume and design for the idols,” says Das.

Said Salim, a factor worker who takes a month’s leave every year to make Durga idols: “We look forward to Durga Puja and Dussehra festivals. This place comes alive with vibrant colours.”