The ongoing puja season has confirmed that there is a dearth of idol artisans in the district here. Consequently, the ones who are left with the age-old occupation are either overburdened with work or the puja organisers have to hire artisans from outside the district or State for making the idols and decorating the pandals. On Dussehra this year, it is learnt that many puja committees were forced to commission artisans from outside or buy readymade idols from Cuttack and other parts of the State.
The reason why the number of idol makers is on a decline is lack of profit. The younger generation loses interest in idol making due to the fact that they find other professions more rewarding, informed Hari Paital, an octogenarian idol maker.
There are barely 10 to 15 artisans making idols in the district. Since the beginning of the festive season, they are overburdened with work. At times, they are not able to deliver the idols in time. Besides, if there is inclement weather, it takes a longer time to dry the clay idols and finish them in time, said Nagen Moharana, another idol maker. Usually the artisans start work from Ganesh Puja and continue it till Kartikiswar Puja.
According to a septuagenarian artisan, during his early days there were thousands of idol makers and idol making was a respectable profession. “May used to earn their livelihood from it,” he said, adding that the artists were rewarded for best work. Sudhansu Jena, an artisan, informed that he took up idol making as a profession early in life. “I would watch my father making idols and start making them myself at the age of 15. I love to make idols as it is a noble cause. Making the images of gods and goddesses gives me a lot of pleasure which I probably may not find in any other job.”
Tying the straws to the structure with jute string requires a lot of skill. Moreover, painting the idol in different colours is also a creative instinct, he opined.