Clicky
Country

Artisans dissatisfied with remuneration this year


Published : 22 Sep 2022 08:35 PM

Durgapuja, the largest religious festival of Hindu Community is going to be celebrated with religious fervor in six upazilas of Jhenaidah. The artists have been passing their busy times to draw the last time touch like colour and decoration as puja hours during the sashthi was nearing on October 1. 

The puja observation committee leaders have been saying that the prices of idol making, decoration, lighjt and sound, brahman (purohiit) charge, dhaki and materials went higher in recent days. It might be double in the season, they said. In the other hand the artists involved in making the idols said the number of idols in the puja madaps had reduced that the last year. As a result their income was   dropped.

Jhenaidah district puja udjapon parishad (committee for observation of Durgapuja) leaders said out of total 445 puja mandaps, 105 were installed in Jhenaidah Sadar, 127 in Shailkupa, 87 in Kaliganj, 46 in Kotchandpur, 47 in bordering Moheshpur and remaining 33 in Harinakundu. The artists had already completed the structural work in the mandaps while now preparing to give colour on the idols. It is likely to be completed within a day or two so that the sashthipuja might be started on October 1, they said.

Kabirpur Durgapuja udjapon parishad leader Subir Kumar said they have been spending Taka over six lakhs in the current year for idol making, decoration cost, purohit, lighting and sound, musical instruments etc. The cost is maintained with the collection of local Hindu Community people where the government sanctions some rice in this purposes every year, while the cost was almost three lakhs in the last year, Subir said.

Artiste Sumon Kumar Paul, involved in making idols at Kabirpur Durga mandap in Shailkupa of Jhenaidah when contacted said their income was reduced when the number of idols was decreasing. He earned Taka over three lakhs making nine sets of Durga idols (Pratima) last year, while making seven sets in the current season.

Jhenaidah district committee president of the puja udjapon parishad Kanak Kanti Das when contacted said both district administration and police administration have been extending their cooperation to maintain law and order in the district. There will be a peaceful environment in the season. 

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Manira Begum when contacted said they have ensured peaceful puja festival throughout the district where the law and order authority will keenly maintain the law so that no untoward incident could arise anyway.

Superintendent of police (SP) Ashiqur Rahman when contacted said they had taken all-out preparations to tackle any situation in the puja for a better festival atmosphere. 

Sufficient police and Ansar VDP personnel were kept alert round the clock, SP added.