CALCUTTA : This year Durga has returned with her young son, with her daughters Lakshmi and Saraswati in tow, walking miles from a big city to her hometown in West Bengal.
This time, the Kolkata-based Behala Barisha Club has described the plight of migrant workers during the COVID-induced shutdown as a topic.
Stripped of traditional ornaments, Durga is seen here walking back with her sons and Ganesh, sitting on a buffalo and a lion’s head, holding her platform. It is surrounded by jute aid bags with the face of a traditional Durga idol reflected in the background.
“This idea came to me during the confinement when I saw the plight of migrant workers. Seeing a woman walking for miles without help and four children is something I consider worthy of deification,” Rintu Das, the artist told ANI.
Stating that they wanted to portray the “strength and determination” of Goddess Durga in migrant women, the club’s president, Sudip, said that these are very unusual and difficult times for everyone. “Goddess Durga epitomizes strength and determination. Our budget has been completely reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Barisha Club is known for its theme, so nothing could be better than portraying the difficulties of these workers migrants, “Sudip said.
In West Bengal, people treat this time of year as their daughter Durga’s annual stay with her four sons, Kartik, Ganesh, Lakshmi and Saraswati, from her husband Mahadev’s residence on Mount Kailasha.
However, some daughters returned home empty-handed this time during the confinement, the theme of the Barisha club.
Not just migrant workers, COVID-19 has also left its brutal impact on idol makers. Many in Siliguri said that their business has halved from the other years with very limited orders for Durga idols due to central government restrictions.
“The pandemic has caused great damage to our business. Orders are down to less than half from previous years. Currently, there is hardly any profit in idol production, although this is the peak season for us,” said one idol maker to ANI.
Also known as Sharad Navratri, Durga Puja is believed to mark the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, signifying the victory of good over evil.
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