Maa Durga idols along with their ornaments and other non-biodegradable items are usually immersed after the 10-daylong Puja. But the Puja Samitis seem to be going greener with changing times as the OCC Durga Puja Committee members are working on thermacol Maa Durga idol that will not be immersed this year.
Interestingly, they have pledged to re-use the thermocol and other items used to make idols including Maa Durga, Maa Saraswati, Maa lakshmi, lord Ganesha and Vishwakarma for next puja season.
With such an initiative, denizens will also get the chance of watching three Maa Durga idols at the heart of the city this year. “We are making 12 Jyotirlinga Sidhipith pandal wherein 45 feet thermacol made Maa Durga with her children will be seen at the middle. This will not be worshipped as it is a part of the pandal decoration nor will it be immersed. Instead, we will use it in Kali Puja and Kartik Puja pandals at Naihati and Bansberia,” artisan S Seal of Hooghly said on Thursday.
As many as 12 laborers headed by Seal are also making the Pandal water resistant. “last year it rained heavily creating trouble for most of the local committee members. Even if it rains 24 hours this time, visitors can see our pandal without being scared of getting wet,” Seal added.
Highlighting the basic reason for involving the concept of three Maa Durga idols, Committee’s Treasurer N Karmakar said, “like everyone, we will worship two idols. The main idol is 10 feet and the other is 5 feet. In order to give the Jyotirlinga effect, a fountain with 12 diyas (lamps) will be displayed in front of the pandal. Our main purpose is to attract more crowd than previous years.”
Around three years back, similar pandal was made at Kolkata’s New Town Area which was applauded by the locals. This popularity encouraged the members to download the design from internet and construct the same with fresh raw materials.
If everything goes well, Seal and his team have targeted to complete the pandal by September 28. “We began the construction on August 21 and are aiming to finish it by September 28. This way we can spend Panchami and Soshti on September 29 and 30 with our families at home,” artisan Debu Chakraborty assisting Seal said.