An artist lends finishing touches to an idol of Goddess Durga in Kadamkuan. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Sept. 28: The artists in the state capital are burning the midnight oil, giving final touches to the idols ahead of Saptami, the day the pandals open for public viewing.

The carving and shaping of the idols begin months in advance. However, the deities are coloured only at the pandals according to the directions of the Puja samities.

Jagnath Pal, an artist at Dakbungalow roundabout, said: “Pat (eyes) of the idol will be opened on the seventh day of Durga Puja and we are making all efforts to colour the deity in the best colours. Instead of focusing on the latest themes, it will be better to focus on the traditional colours. When people visit this pandal, the familiar smell of wet soil and paint mixed with incense sticks shall make their visit more memorable.”

Pal said he prefers to go slow on painting the idols to ensure there are no mistakes. “The face of the idol is very important. As an artist I need to give the perfect expression to the idols. Even if there is a slight mistake, the entire structure and the look of the goddess change. I am working overtime to make the idols look divine. I am painting and re-painting these idols with a lot of patience and love so that I can get that perfect look.”

Dhruv Kumar, a student of College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, was busy giving final touches to an idol at a Langartoli pandal, said: “The job of making the idols is not an easy one. Every feature of the idols has to look real. While painting the idols, certain things like Durga holding the lotus, maintaining a meditative smile besides the symbolic hand gestures have to be kept in mind. The colour combination between the devil and deities has to be perfect because even in colour, the goddess must look superior to the demon.”

He said: “I make the idol on the instructions of the Puja samiti. There are many who come with designs from the Internet and ask us to replicate them. The colour of idol shown on the Internet is quite difficult to replicate but I give my best to get as close to it as possible.”

The art student added that several samitis want the idolmakers and the artists to experiment with new styles, colour and designs.”

Artist Vinay Kumar busy giving finishing touches to the goddess’s idol at the Tripolia area in Patna City. He said: “Colouring is a very lengthy process that requires diligence as well as skill. It requires patience to get that perfect look of the idol. It is an extremely tiring and lengthy process but there shall not be any compromise on quality.”

Red, which symbolises blood, is used by the artist on the seventh day of Durga Puja when the idols are dressed with jewels and other ornaments.