Durga Puja and the lost traditions

Agartala, Sep 09, 2011 : Fleeting snowy clouds in the azure blue sky coupled with seasonal Kash flower teased by the waves of cool breeze, ‘siuli phool’ soaked with morning dew and strewn on the ground – say it all : Durga Puja is round the corner. As the Bengalis start count down for the biggest festival of the year, the air is heavy in with the smell of clay, straw, wood, bamboos, clothes and other materials at Kumar Para, Netaji Chowmuhani, where the idols of the Mother deity are taking shape since last two months. Like previous years and in accordance with the tradition making of the idols of Goddess Durga and other gods had started in middle of June last as part of pre-puja preparations. The artisans are now – 23 days before the puja starts-busy at day and busy at night. Yet, talk to them, you will find something amiss in the mood. “So far, we have produced only 10-15 idols. And we are not expecting good returns this time. Prices of the goods that we use for making the idols have risen”, said Babul Chandra Biswas, an expert artisan of Kumur Para. The artisan stopped and then washed his dirty hands to talk to me. He brought out a Bidi and drew a long puff and then ruefully added: This year the order was less. But we have to come up with new look every year to meet the demand”. Nostalgia seems to have come crowding to this old timer. Once, big city clubs used to solely rely on us. Now, for the last four five years they have big budget and they hire artisans from outside the state. Besides, many eminent artists and sculptors of the state who are not traditional artisans also started making idols using new ideas and new materials which are quite attractive in modern times. It is now only the small clubs they come to us. “We are engaged for summer to autumn. And in the rest of the seasons, we work in various other fields”, stated a painter, who gives the colour to the idols. “We are paid very less wages on daily basis while a set of idol is sold at Rs. 15,000-20,000”, said a female artist who did not want to be named. “No body is willing is to come in this idol-artistry for the uncertainty of future and ever decreasing financial benefit. Is the trend goes on the traditional idol making would soon be abolished”, observed Biswas. The casualty is the traditional ‘dhakis’. Blame it on the advancement of music gadgets the traditional Dhakis are no more a favoured attraction in any Puja pandal. “Most of the time city clubs hire us only to beat drums when the puja is performed. After the puja is over, we virtually sit idle through out the day and at night there is virtually there is no use for us even as the electronic sound system blares popular albums for the puja ravellers ”, said Paltu Hrishi Das, a dhaki of East Pratapgarh. “Naturally, the wage has also reduced”, he said and then added “Only in temples and pujas which are performed at homes we are still required”. In view of the shrinking demands many also seek to explore possibilities in other fields, many also go to Kolkata and start a new life there, he said. “Problem also comes from our families. We are traditional Dhakis and we take pride for being so- to be part of the festival. But our children do not like to beat the drums”, said Rabindra Hrishi Das, veteran dhaki of the locality. “My sons pull rickshaw, but unwilling to join in the profession as dhaki”, he lamented, adding, “a day would come when electronic gadgets would replace us totally and we would not be there in the pandals to perform”. A new generation would then emerge who will never hear the sounds of ‘dhak’ and children will not dance and ravel with the rhythmic beat reverberating the festive time.