Making Durga Idol Amid Adversities

He is 80 years old and this is all that he has been doing for the past 65 years – make Durga idols. But business this year has been the worst for Paresh Sutra Pal. Durga puja is being celebrated under the shadow of COVID pandemic and it is not just Paresh but all the other idol makers of Lumding are facing some of the toughest times of their lives. Business has come down to a miniscule. The Railway township would be celebrating puja in a very muted way in keeping with the COVID guidelines issued by the government. The fact that puja celebrations would be low key this time is having a direct adverse impact on idol makers like Paresh. These idol makers have always earned a living by making idols. But despite all the adversities these idol makers are not putting in all their best efforts and giving the finishing touches to the idols.