This Durga Puja, artists choose innovation over tradition for idols

VARANASI: Last year's idol immersion row seems to have failed to dampen the spirit of artists making idols for Durga Puja celebrations. At workshops in Sonarpura, Bangali Tola, Devnathpura and Bhelupur, one can see an array of idols of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha among others being prepared using clay from the Ganga and natural colours.
While maximum number of idols are of classical mould, several artisans have come up with innovations in Ekchala and Rudraksh style known as 'Chandiroop' and oriental with shades of Ajanta-Ellora theme.
"Theme-based idols have been in vogue for quite sometime, but the artists have always preferred traditional ones. However, with changing times, we have started maintaining a balance by ensuring the traditional look is not lost," said idol maker Gopal Chandra Dey of Devnathpura locality.
Most of the idols are of classical style, but the ones that stand out are two idols: one showcasing Van Devi (goddess of the forest) whose hair have been made using bark of trees and jute bags used as a saree, while another is inspired by Ajanta-Ellora theme. "Here, the face is much different from the traditional idols that we see," said Dey, . Both the idols will be sent to Puja pandal at Mansaram Phatak and Ghausabad areas. Another idol maker in Bhelupur area, Manoranjan Pal, has also made idols using jute bags and raw jute which remained an attraction at his workshop. "This is the first time we got an outside order from Jaunpur district. There are about five-six jute idols with focus entirely on Maa Durga," informed his son, Suman Pal, adding that they had made Durga idols in Rajasthani style with ghaghra.
Another idol, an example of traditional Ekchala styled Maa Durga, was nestled peacefully among other idols at the rear side of his workshop. This idol is a reflection of the raja's (king) wife in olden era in West Bengal. The idol has been carefully designed with big Bengali eyes, dressed in white-golden-red Dhakai saree synonymous with Bengal and a bunch of keys tied at one end of the saree, said Pal.