Durga idol kills coronavirus | Photo credit: ANI
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that puts a brake on holiday spirits, a Durga idol established in Hyderabad on the occasion of Durga Puja portrays the Goddess killing the virus.
Speaking to ANI, Gulab Srinivas, the organizer of the Durga Puja pandal featuring the creation, said that the 31-foot idol captured the essence of what people were feeling: the coronavirus affecting people’s lives like a demon.
“This year, COVID-19 has been worrying us the most, so we decided to create an idol of the goddess Durga by killing him as she killed the demon Mahishasura. It is 31 feet tall and the artists were brought in from Kolkata, ”Srinavas said.
He also claimed that the idol, made of clay and grass, was environmentally friendly and that watercolors were used to paint.
He added: “We are following all the government-recommended COVID-19 guidelines and making sure people follow social distancing rules and wear masks.”
This year, the idol was considerably smaller than the usual 44 to 50 feet due to the pandemic.
“Usually we make idols that stand at a height that varies from 44 feet to 50 feet, but this year we reduced the size to 31 feet. I pray to the goddess to free this world from this pandemic situation ”, he added.
Maninder Singh, a devotee, said they did not visit pandalos or temples due to the pandemic.
“Every year we celebrate Dussehra in a great way. But this year, due to COVID-19, we can’t celebrate it like we used to. We cannot visit a temple or pandal with our family as group gatherings are not allowed, so we visit the temple individually and offer our prayers, ”said Singh.
This year, Durga Puja is celebrated from October 23 to 26 across the country.
