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Durga Puja has turned out to be more of a social festival. The preparation required to make it successful depends entirely on the contributions from all the sections of the society. Bangalinet has brought forward these important people who are behind the glory of the festival.

Men gathering riverbed silt_________________________________
Fine riverbed silt is required for the final coating of the idol of Goddess Durga. Always in great demand during the Pujas, it is very difficult to amass this fine silt required for the silken effect on the idol. Labourers like Subash Mandal, swim underwater in the Hoogly River in the early hours to gather basketful of silt from the riverbed. A cart is then loaded

Men behind the pandals_____________________
Sankar Sarkar fondly known as “Masterda”, leads the Mahishbathan Gramin Hastashilpa Samabaya of North Dinajpur. A team of ten skilled men has come to Kolkata to decorate the city-based pandals. They specialize in handicrafts made of wood, jute and bamboo. Talking to Bangalinet, Masterda said, “This year quite a few Puja committees have invited us to decorate their pandals with works of jute, bamboo and wood. Durga Puja for us

is the time for financial benefit and for all the villages as well as the cooperative engaged in making handicrafts. We pray to the Goddess though our work.” 

Idol maker___________________________ 
Idol maker Kartik Pal and Sons has been in business for three generations. A very respectable name in the idol making community of Kumartuli, now the company is headed by Naba and Vikram Pal, but under the vigilant eyes of their father, who though is old, is always ready to

add the finishing touches to the idol. Kartik Pal has been making idols since 1950’s, when Durga Puja was mostly a home affair. Now, he finds things have changed a lot along with time. Talking to Bangalinet, he said, “ We try to mould the shape of mother as we think she should look like. It gives us a power. We forget our day-to-day miseries and find solace through our work. Financially, this is the most lucrative period for us. This season is the one we wait for throughout the year. This year (2001) we have made a 4 ft. idol of fiber weighing 7 kgs. for Manchester, U.K. ” 

  Dress & Jewellery Designer__________________
For Nanilal Dey and Sons Durga Puja is the time to design dresses, jewelleries and weapons for the Goddess. A 300 year-old family business in Kumartuli, Dey waits for Durga puja as this time of the year is the most lucrative period. Speaking to Bangalinet, Dey said, “ Durga Puja is the greatest festival and Puja for us is the 

time for good business opportunity. Zari, mukuts (crowns), weapons, jewellery, chandmala all items needed to decorate the Goddess are sold by us.”   

The light decorators__________________
The glittering lights that grace the Puja Mandaps are the creation of some handful of artists of Chandannagar. Adept at this form of art these artists are always on the lookout of eventful occurrence in the national or international arena throughout the year. 

Known for their powerful artistic expression through lights they are in great demand through out the country. During Durga Puja, almost the entire city is adorned with the lighting works of Chandannagar. Paresh Pal one of the artists said to Bangalinet, “We start work from the month of March and we earn around 20,000 to 40,000 yearly. Besides, it being a financially beneficial part of the year, we have other means of livelihood for the rest of the year. Durga Puja is the time to rejoice and our joy is reflected through the glittering lights of the city."