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Regular-article-logo Friday, 06 June 2025

Durga Pratima

The Durga pratima being readied at Beldih Kalibari pandal in Bistupur on Monday. A wet and weighty idol had been giving artisans from Bengal sleepless nights until an unlikely solution surfaced. A coat of distemper 

TT Bureau Published 04.10.16, 12:00 AM
The Durga pratima being readied at Beldih Kalibari pandal in Bistupur on Monday. A wet and weighty idol had been giving artisans from Bengal sleepless nights until an unlikely solution surfaced. A coat of distemper (a type of paint that is mixed with water) was applied to absorb dampness so that the goddess can appear in her pristine daker saaj on Mahasashthi this Friday. Chief artisan Ajay Chakravarty said they were almost done painting and polishing the idols. "Wet clay takes time to dry, which affects painting and varnishing jobs. Distemper is known to absorb water from the surface. So, things are under control and we are confident of completing the idols by tomorrow (Tuesday)," he added. Normally, Bengal artisans who make the 18-feet-tall and two-tonne-heavy Durga pratima start their work by the third week of August. Incessant rainfall and delay in mounting the pandal had put artisans in a fix this year. Work at Beldih Kalibari began 15 days late on September 5 because of weather conditions. (Bhola Prasad)
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