Advocate Prakash Chandra Bhattacharyya gives finishing touches to the Saraswati idol. Picture by Anup Bhattacharya

After a long day of arguments and cross-questioning at Howrah Court and giving legal advice to clients at his chamber in central Howrah, Prakash Chandra Bhattacharyya likes to relax in his studio. The criminal lawyer’s only other occupation after his full-time profession, is that of an idol-maker. And he gets busy at it once annually – a month before Saraswati puja. He makes the Saraswati idol that is worshipped by the family. Bhattacharyya has been doing this for the past 30 years or so, and remembers worshipping idols that he has made himself when he was in school. “I don’t remember how or why I started making Saraswati idols, but once I started making it myself, I did not like buying idols from the market,” said Bhattacharyya.

As a young boy, Bhattacharyya would make small idols, but gradually, as he got used to it, the idols became bigger. “I learnt to make idols on my own. I have never gone to any idol-maker to learn sculpting. When I was young, I would stand on the road and watch idol-makers kneading clay and moulding the forms. That is how I learnt,” said Bhattacharyya. Although he has been making the idol on his own all these years, Prakash now takes help from his son and nephew. “This year I asked them to help me because it is a long process and I cannot devote enough time to it,” he said.

Collecting all the items needed for making the idol is also done by Bhattacharyya and his family members. “We have to get straw, bamboo and two types of clay to mould the idol. The Saraswati idol that is worshipped in our house has four hands carrying a rudraksha garland, a book, a pen and a chandmala. At the deity’s feet are both a swan and a peacock, who are her carriers. I had got the description of this form of the deity from my father, Jogesh Chandra Bhattacharyya, who was a Sanskrit pundit. He had told me that the Puranas had this description of Saraswati and it is believed that Kalidasa and Valmiki had worshipped this form of the goddess,” said Bhattacharyya.

A month before Saraswati puja, Prakash starts kneading the clay and tying the straw to the bamboo structure to start making the idol. “After attending to clients at my chamber, I go to my studio after 10pm and work till midnight or sometimes longer than that. Since I don’t have time during the day, I have to work at night. But I have never thought of buying an idol for Saraswati puja,” said Prakash. Decorating the deity is the responsibility of the women of the household. “My wife and the other women and girls of the family decorate with sola ornaments. However, there are some gold ornaments for the deity that have been given by various members of the family,” said Bhattacharyya. There are no strict rules for the colour of the sari that the goddess will wear. The family members do not strictly maintain that the deity should wear a yellow sari. “We put different coloured saris every year. This year, for example, the deity wore a red Benarasi sari,” said Prakash.

When he was young, Prakash’s father would perform Saraswati puja, later his elder brother took over and now Prakash does the puja himself or tells his son or nephew to do it. “Many people come to the house on Saraswati puja just to see the idol since they know that I make it myself,” said Prakash. The idol stays for two days after the puja before it is immersed.

More about Prakash

• DoB: November 18, 1963
• Born in: Howrah
• Family: Joint family
• Education: B Com, BA, LLB
• Loves: Travelling, photography
• Hates: Lies