Durga gets final touch

With Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of Bangalee Hindus, around the corner, artisans of Lalmonirhat, Bogra and Mymensingh are passing busy time, putting final touches on idols.

At least 417 Puja mandops (temporary temples) have been set up in five upazilas of Lalmonirhat to celebrate the festival, the worship of the goddess, Durga, to be held on October 7-11, reports our correspondent.

Idol makers from different areas of the district as well as those coming from Bogra, Tangail, Faridpur, Rajbari, Nilphamari, and even India, weeks before the occasion are busy putting final touches on the clay images of the deities at the temples.

Idol maker Narayon Chandra Roy, 50, of Roypara village in Sadar upazila, said they are working round-the-clock putting final touches on the idols.

Meanwhile, hiring rate of drummers has almost doubled ahead of the festival, said members of different temple management committees. 

Due to their high rate, many temple committee members are yet to hire drummers although a few days are left to celebrate Durga Puja.

A drummer is now charging Tk 8-20 thousand for four days while it was Tk 4-8 thousand last year, said some members of the committees.

According to our Bogra correspondent, all-out preparations to celebrate the five-day celebration have been going on in full swing in twelve upazilas of the district.

As part of the celebration, at least 619 mandops have been set up in the district, said Bogra police.

Idol maker Shuvash Chandra of the town said they are busy making images of the goddess at different temples in the town.

In Mymensingh, as the festival is knocking at the door, idol makers are passing busy days, making clay images of Durga in at least 710 Puja mandops in Sadar and Muktagachha upazilas, reports our correspondent.