Heartfelt Struggles: Artisans Battle Rising Costs and Lack of Support to Craft Durga Idols
With the Durgotsav festivities just weeks away, the potters of Shivpur, a distinguished potter’s village in Bongaigaon district, Assam, are working tirelessly to craft clay idols of Goddess Durga. Despite their crucial role in these cultural celebrations, these artisans face several challenges, including rising costs, limited resources, and a lack of government support.
Creating a Durga idol is a complex and resource-intensive process. Potters must procure land, straw, bamboo, wood, and other materials from the local charadam (river island), which proves to be costly. While the cost of making an idol averages around Rs. 10,000, potters can only earn a profit of Rs. 18,000 to Rs. 20,000 for each idol sold.
During the Sharadiya Durgotsava, the mrunmaya (clay) idols from Shivpur are distributed across Bongaigaon district and beyond. This craft has been a tradition for over six decades, yet the artisans have not benefited from any government grants or assistance.
Despite limited facilities and numerous hurdles, the skilled artisans of Abhayapuri continue their work. They are appealing for greater government support to ensure the sustainability of their craft and to acknowledge their contribution to the cultural heritage of the region.
Original Story https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/assam-artisans-struggle-to-make-durga-idols-amidst-rising-costs-lack-of-government-support-1099863-2024-09-30?utm_source=rssfeed
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