Wet spell woes: Kumartuli in a rush to meet delivery deadline
Times of India | 28 September 2024
Kolkata: The long-wet spell during a crucial phase when artistes give finishing touches to idols before sending them off to pandals is threatening to delay the preparations. But idol-makers are implementing different measures to stop that from happening. The narrow lanes and bylanes of the potters’ enclave in north Kolkata have been covered with big plastic sheets to stop rainwater from jseeping into areas where idols have been kept.
Many idol-makers have pooled in money to hire huge fans and blow torches to dry the paint on idols.
Many Durga Puja committees take delivery of the idols around Mahalaya to accessorize and decorate them before inauguration on Tritiya or Chaturthi. However, it has been raining constantly since Tuesday evening. Last week, too, it rained for over four days.
“There is hardly any time left and Durga Puja organisers have been seeking regular updates from us regarding the completion of work. There have been two long spells of rain in the past two weeks that have hindered our work,” said Mala Pal, an idol-maker in Kumartuli.
“Since the idols have been made, we had to move them out in the open since the area inside the workshop is cramped. We have covered the outside area with plastic sheets and have wrapped the idols with similar sheets so that they don’t get damaged,” said Pal.
In the run-up to Mahalaya, artisans paint and accesorize the idols before sending them off to their respective pandals. “We are behind schedule due to the weather. Paint is taking time to dry and water seepage is a constant threat,” said Prodyut Pal, another idol-maker in Kumartuli.
“We are praying for the weather to clear up from Saturday so that we can finish work on time,” said another idol-maker.