A correspondent
Demow: Saraswati idol sales have witnessed a significant drop this year, according to Mani Paul, a veteran sculptor from Demow Dehajan with over 46 years of experience in the craft. Speaking to a correspondent on Saturday, Paul, who runs Rongpur Silpalay, expressed concerns over the declining business, worsened by unfavourable weather conditions.
“This year, we made 40 Saraswati idols, but the sales are disappointing,” Paul said. His idols are usually distributed to areas like Desang Rajabari, Gossainbari, Nitaipukhuri, Dighalibam, Athabari, Kharahat, and Demow. Despite rising costs for raw materials, the prices of the idols remain unchanged, with small Saraswati idols priced at Rs. 1,500 and large ones at Rs. 7,000. Paul noted that they also craft cement and fibre idols at Rongpur Silpalay. “This profession is my only source of income,” he added, highlighting the challenges faced by traditional sculptors in the current market.
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