Sushanta Ghosh, Barishal

Idol artisans in Barishal are not getting expected price ahead of Durga Puja amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The sculptors said even though prices of raw materials increased, their fees reduced as many puja mandap committees are offering low prices this year.

Many, however, said they are grateful that they are still getting some orders given the situation. Due to the pandemic, the festival will be celebrated on a limited scale this year.

Durga Puja, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Hindu community, will be held from October 22 to 26.

Organisers said 617 mandaps will be set up in Barishal -- 42 in the city and 575 outside the city. Preparations are going on in full swing.

Last year, Durga Puja was held at 41 mandaps in the city and 570 mandaps outside.

Swapan Kar, organising secretary of Mahanagar Puja Udjapan Parishad, said number of mandaps increased this year.

Idol makers, however, said that did not make any good impact on their income, rather it went down at least 10 percent.

Rupak Pal working at Bhatikhana Puja Mandap said many are preferring small-size idols as they cannot afford the big ones. “This time, I took order for a package of idols at Tk 20,000 which was Tk 60,000 last year,” he said.

He said last year he got orders for five such packages. “So far, it’s only one this year.”

The sculptor said a Durga idol without paint generally costs Tk 5,000. This time, it needs more than Tk 6,000 due to price hike in raw materials, he said.

Despite the setback, these artisans continue to work and eagerly await the festival as bulk of their income comes from it, said Bishweswar Paul, adviser to Barishal Mritshilpi Sammelon o Sammanana, an organisation for clay artisan community in the southern region.

Tapan Pal, a clay artisan working for the city’s Tiakhali Durga Mandap, said costs of straw, paint, other materials and labour went up by 10-20 percent but their fees did not.

Still, he said, they are in a way fortunate that they are getting orders amid this pandemic. “I thought I would not get any order as many were reluctant to celebrate puja properly this time,” said Tapan. “It’s still better than nothing.”

Suranjit Dutta Litu, general secretary of Mahanagar Puja Udjapan Parishad, said they imposed a ban on lighting and music through loudspeaker this year. Health guidelines -- including social distancing -- will also be maintained strictly, he said.

An artisan working on an idol of Durga.

Photo: Titu Das