Durga Puja is the biggest religious festival of the followers of Sanatan religion. In addition, after a few days this big autumn festival of Sanatan religion followers is going to start. That is why the artisans of Ulipur upazila of Kurigram are busy making idols. Competition is going on in Mandap to Mandap who can make the best idol and win the hearts of the devotees. Puja committee is making idols by bringing artisans from local and different areas as per capacity. Now someone is making the structure of the idol, someone is applying soil to the structure. After that, the work of applying paint on the dried idol will begin.
According to the traditional calendar, Mahalaya will be held on September 25, Pooja will begin on October 1, Inviting and Adivasa will begin on October 2, Nava Patrika Prasavante Saptami Vihit Puja on October 2, Maha Ashtami and Sandhi Puja on October 3, Mahanavami Puja on October 4 and Dasami on October 5. The tithi will end with the desecration of the idol.
Various Puja Mandaps and idol making factories of the upazila were visited, the idol makers seen busy day making the idols of Goddess Durga, with their artistic touch from clay, bamboo, straw, twine.
Govind Roy (40), an idol-maker, said that the prices of everything in the market have increased. The demand for idols is less this year than last year. Other years I make 10 to 12 idols at this time. I am working on making only 7 idols this year. I don't know what will happen. So far no one has come to the puja mandap to pay for the idol. Still, I am working on making idols with courage. Usually about 7 to 8 thousand Tk are spent on making each idol.
Smriti Rani, wife of idol maker Ramakrishna, said that every year I make 12 to 14 idols. Due to husband’s foot problem, we are making 8-10 idols together. Sujan Chandra Mahant (30) said the same thing. General Secretary of Bangladesh Brahmin Sangsad Upazila Branch Sunil Chakraborty and Organizational Secretary Biplab Majumdar said that puja should be celebrated according to the schedule and Chandipath should be done in every mandap. No obscene music should be played except for religious songs. Adhan and prayer schedule should be followed. Soumendra Prasad, president of the Upazila Puja Celebration Parishad, said that there is a possibility that puja will be held in approximately 120 to 125 Mandaps in the upazila this year. However, this year there will be no puja celebrations in the temporary temple. In this regard, Imtiaz Kabir, officer-in-charge of Ulipur police station, said that there will be strict security in the puja mandapams. No disorder will be allowed anywhere.
In this regard, Upazila Executive Officer Vipul Kumar said that discussions have been held with the upazila and union level mandap committee presidents and general secretaries for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. Keeping in view the issue of power shelter, instructions have been given for lighting on a limited scale and completing the puja on time.