With the festive season just days away, the Jamshedpur Central Durga Puja Committee has asked the puja organisers to ensure that the height of the idols is limited to 5 feet.
In view of the spread of coronavirus, the apex body has issued important guidelines for its members. The central committee has said that with limited height of idols less number of people will be required while bringing the idols and also during immersion.Moreover, the puja committees have been asked to follow COVID-19 norms. “We have been asked by Puja organisers to restrict the height of idols to 5 feet, while pandals will be simple and small. No melas will be allowed this year. We have been asked to ensure social distancing,” said an official of Jugsalai Durga Puja Committee.
City-based famous artist Durga Mahato of Mahato Para Road Jugsalai has spent half his life in creating some of the best idols. But, he is a little disappointed with the present way of celebrations. He said that Puja committees have been asked to be careful while celebrating. Even they have received few orders. Every year, idol makers give birth to thousands of idols of God and Goddesses. With the festivals approaching, ‘Vishwakarma Puja’ on September 17, followed by ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ and ‘Durga Puja’, the idol makers are working day and night to make the most out of this time.
Ram Babu Singh, general secretary, Jamshedpur Central Durga Puja Committee said : “ We have asked the organisers to make small size idols not more than 5 feet in height so that those can be immersed in ponds to be prepared at designated sites and also will ensure social distancing during immersion”.
Ganesh Kumar, an idol maker in Kadma for the last 45 years is creating idols in a traditional and skilled way. Kumar explained, “The basic rule to be followed is that the soil to be used in idol making should come from a sacred water body. The clay artisans work hard for several months to create wonderful idols and images of various gods and goddesses during festive season. Bamboos are used to construct basic frame which provides a skeleton character to the idol. Then structure is made using straw and jute ropes and strings to keep it in place.”