Like every year, the capital’s well-known sculptor Ajay Kumar Paul, 56, had roped in around a dozen of trained sculptors from other parts Jharkhand and Bengal to prepare idols of gods and goddesses to be sold for festivals throughout the year.

But that was before the Covid-19 pandemic made its presence felt.

Paul had even taken a loan of Rs 9.50 lakh from the bank and sculpted around 100 idols.

But the situation turned so dire for him that he had to spend all his savings and the loan amount on the idols and wages without much hope of selling them in the near future. All he has left now is a future full of worries.

In Ranchi, there are around 30 families of kumhars (potters) who are involved in pottery and idol making, all facing a bleak future.

When The Telegraph visited his studio last week, Paul was seen sitting inside his workshop, Shilpayan, on Peace Road, which was once a busy hub for artisans making sculptures and prospective buyers placing their orders.

“I don’t know what our fate shall be,” said Paul.

“I have spent my life making idols of gods and goddesses. I just pray to the almighty to save us. If the situation doesn’t improve, then I will have to beg to eat. Our workers are on the verge of starvation,” Paul confessed.

Earlier this month, he had sent six of his employees back home in Bengal by hiring a taxi for them.

Paul said: “I paid Rs 25,500 as taxi fare and gave them some cash. They were so emotional that they broke down while talking to their families over phone. Now, the remaining six employees are with me and I am taking care of them. But I am running out of money to pay for their food and lodging,” Paul had said when he was last contacted last week.

Paul said: “I had taken a loan of Rs 9.50 lakh from the bank, something that I usually do every year. Even during the lockdown I was providing jobs to my staff. I spent around Rs 8 lakh on making idols because in view of the festivals we start making the idols in advance. But this time I had not anticipated that we will be completely ruined by the novel coronavirus,” he said.

For a series of festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi in August, Vishwkarma Puja in mid-September, and Puja in October and Kali Puja in November, Paul has already prepared over 100 idols.

“But there are no buyers this time,” he said. “I contacted members of many puja committees on whether they are willing to book idols in advance. All of them flatly refused. I am into this business since the last many decades and I can sense disaster in store for us. I don’t know how I will repay my bank loan,” he said.

Many Puja outfits said that due to Covid-19, the government may continue a ban on mass gathering as precautionary measure. Members of many Puja organisations said that they had exhausted the savings in relief work.

“We are just waiting and watching,” said convener of Ranchi Zila Durga Puja Samiti, Munchun Rai. “Usually we start preparing for Durga Puja from mid-June. Not this year. Celebration of Durga Puja depends on whether or not the pandemic is under control and the government allows mass gathering. Money is the second big factor, because people may not be in a position to donate. That’s why we have not made advance payment for idols. I hope the situation improves but we won’t do anything that affects the health of people,” said Rai.