Prayagraj: City-based craftsmen who sculpt idols of Hindu gods before Ganesh Chaturthi and Vishwakarma Puja find it difficult to organize the soil to form idols.
The recent flood has played spoilsport for craftsmen who are running from the pillar to the post to buy good quality land from the trans-ganga area.
In addition, they spent four more money to buy half trucks.
Apart from this, the lower number of orders for idols from city and individual religious groups this time has also exacerbated their tribulation.
Since the preparation of idols for Ganesh Utsav, Vishwakarma Jayanti and Durga Puja began to start after June every year, these craftsmen are usually busy printing clay to statues and decorate them with brushes and colors.
But this year, there is no good quality land and a lower order number of idols has made craftsmen worry.
Tapas buddy, the three generations have traded statues, told toi on Thursday, “I have arranged good quality soil from the trans-ganga area and had to travel at least 40-50 km to bring it.
Rain and floods have washed rich soil ganga , and I have bought land at a higher price.
“” Previously, a small truck was available at Rs 1,000, but now I bought it for Rs 4,000.
Demand for idols also decreased significantly on the market, “he added.
Tapas further claimed, “Pandemic Corona has hit heavy craftsmen.
We experienced the worst situation since the last two years.” We usually begin to get Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja orders from June-end or July, and start buying raw materials such as clay, A stack of bamboo poles, wood, dry grass, straw, ornaments, clothes and decorative items in August.
This year we have not received a large order for great idols Lord Ganesh.
People ask for a small idol for their home, “he said.
“Last year, many craftsmen were left for their original villages in West Bengal after the Kuncian, and they had no reason to return,” another craftsman said.
“It was a peak season for craftsmen because most Hindu festivals began after mid-July,” he added.
Craftsmen in Bhardwah Ashram said, “We used to get orders for hundreds of great idols of great Ganesha.
However, for the past two years, the order is a bit and it’s also for a small idol.
The local Puja Committee also doesn’t do any orders for idols so far because of a pandemic Because they don’t know whether the administration will allow a puja celebration or not.
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