Devoted to a tradition for four decades

Devoted to a tradition for four decades - Bengal artisan family livens up festivities in Jamshedpur

ANTARA BOSE

Clay artist Ajay Chakraborty at work in Jamshedpur. Picture by Bhola Prasad Jamshedpur, Sept. 23: For the past four decades an artisan family from Kolaghat in Bengal has been coming to the steel city to give shape to idols of goddess Durga. Today, this place has become their second home. Meet the Chakrabortys, who despite having a workshop at Baranagar in North 24-Parganas, come all the way to Jamshedpur as early as Janmashtami. Ajay Chakraborty is the second generation of idol-makers in the family who have earned their living in the steel city. Ajay is busy these days with eight sets of idols that will be delivered to some of the renowned Puja pandals across the city. “The art of making idols is in my blood. I used to accompany my father, Shaktipada Chakraborty, to Jamshedpur when I was very young. I always wanted to be an artisan though it never was a great career,” said Ajay, spraying colours on an idol. Five artisans from Kolaghat came to the steel city in search of greener pastures 45 years ago. Among them was Shaktipada, who spent his entire life making traditional Durga idols. “Although we make a variety of idols during the off season, we specialise in daaker saaj. Mythology says that the goddess donned this look when she killed Mahishasur,” said Chakraborty. Every year, Ajay and his cousins, who help him with idol-making, begin their work by worshipping the bamboos, used as a support structure for the idol. Then, begins a test of patience. They stay in the steel city till Shashti before leaving for Kolaghat. Ajay’s father had started with making an idol for Beldih Kalibari but their demand increased over the years. Today, popular puja committees such as Circuit House Area, Bengal Club in Sakchi, Bhatia Bustee in Kadma, Baradwari, Rajendra Nagar and Telco are their customers. Now, there is a satisfaction and they know they have been successful in making people of the city happy by giving them what they wanted. On whether they have seen any change in the taste of people, Ajay answered in the negative. “People still like daaker saaj. However, over the years, the price of raw material has gone up. Puja committee members fail to understand this. Inflation has affected the price of raw material and, so, the cost of making idols has soared. “In case of daaker saaj, the cost is even more and the profit margin much less. The accessories adorning the idols is gaudy and do not come cheap,” he said.

source: telegraph india