{"id":21137,"date":"2016-10-02T17:54:31","date_gmt":"2016-10-02T12:24:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/globalpress.hinduismnow.org?p=21134&preview_id=21134"},"modified":"2016-10-02T17:54:31","modified_gmt":"2016-10-02T12:24:31","slug":"durga-idol-makers-are-creating-the-creator-in-various-indian-themes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/?p=21137","title":{"rendered":"Durga idol makers are creating the Creator in various Indian themes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The fashion designers of the country might seek inspiration from the West, but when it comes to artisans who make Durga idols, the choice remains highly \u2018desi\u2019. From Benarsi to Rajasthani, the themes that they are exploring seem to be inspired by the \u2018Make in India\u2019 concept.<\/p>\n

Amidst a treasure trove of idols one can spot some unusual figures too. \u201cThese durga idols are made keeping in mind the Rajasthani theme,\u201d says 20-year-old artisan Raghunath Pal. The one he points out to, has a a balloon-shaped gown around the waist, which will eventually be painted to look like a fine Rajasthani ghagra. \u201cThis will be painted in bronze colour,\u201d says Pal. He adds, \u201cWe have to create the idols as demanded by the puja organisers, and we give it our best as these Durga idols then compete with each other for prizes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inside the dimly lit makeshift stalls, at Chittaranjan Park\u2019s Kali Bari Mandir, there are several idols being made for not just Durga Puja but even Kali Puja (which is held on Diwali). \u201cIdols for about 50 Durga Pujas are made in our temple complex,\u201d says Santi Mazumder, vice-president Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Society.<\/p>\n

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Bitto Ghosh paints an idol in Benarsi-theme, near Chandralok Cinema in South Delhi\u2019s CR Park. (Zabeeh Afaque\/ HT Photo)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

After sculpting, the idols are painted according to the themes that the puja organisers provide the artisans in advance. Bitto Ghosh, a 20-year-old artist near Chandralok Cinema, gives an idol Banarsi touch though his painting. He says, \u201cI have been painting idols since childhood. This one I\u2019m working on is based on the Banarsi-theme. That\u2019s why the colours we have chosen include bright red and yellow, which are often seen in Banarsi silk-saris.\u201d He also keeps a coloured photograph as reference, while working. \u201cThis is how the final 5 chala (5-piece) pandal will look like when ready,\u201d Ghosh explains.<\/p>\n

The tallest sculpture made in the Kali Bari Mandir is created with much detailing in Indian motifs and measures 18 feet. \u201cIt is for a puja in RK Puram,\u201d informs Pal.<\/p>\n

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This Durga idol is created in Rajasthani-theme, by artists in the Kali Bari Mandir complex in CR Park. (Zabeeh Afaque\/ HT Photo)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

At the make shift tent in Chandralok Cinema, 47-year-old Maunik Paul directs his artisans to paint with caution.\u201cWe make idols for 40-42 puja pandals every year. Each has a concept that we adhere to,\u201d says Paul adding that the mud is brought from Punjab and West Bengal, following the traditional process. \u201cTo make one Durga idol, five workers take about 15 to 20 days and to ensure that the nowadays popular theme idols are created, we need to invest more time,\u201d says Paul.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The fashion designers of the country might seek inspiration from the West, but when it comes to artisans who make Durga idols, the choice remains highly \u2018desi\u2019. From Benarsi to Rajasthani, the themes that they are exploring seem to be inspired by the \u2018Make in India\u2019 concept. Amidst a treasure trove of idols one can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[1184],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21137"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21137"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21137\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}