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Not many smiles this Durga Puja for the idol makers in West Bengal
Not many smiles this Durga Puja for the idol makers in West Bengal

By Gurvinder Singh

Artisans have been working 17-18 hours every day for the past two-three months to make Durga idols. But, they are worried about low earnings as the cost of the raw materials, such as mud and straw, have shot up. A ground report from Howrah's Prasastha village that has 300 idol makers.

Artisans have been working 17-18 hours every day for the past two-three months to make Durga idols. But, they are worried about low earnings as the cost of the raw materials, such as mud and straw, have shot up. A ground report from Howrah's Prasastha village that has 300 idol makers.

The Lotus Farmers of Hooghly
The Lotus Farmers of Hooghly

By Gurvinder Singh

Bainchi village is the hub of lotus farming in West Bengal due to the presence of several water bodies. Farmers take ponds on lease to grow lotus whose demand is very high in the festival season of Durga Puja and Diwali. But sudden heavy rainfall has washed away the flowers leaving the farmers in high debt.

Bainchi village is the hub of lotus farming in West Bengal due to the presence of several water bodies. Farmers take ponds on lease to grow lotus whose demand is very high in the festival season of Durga Puja and Diwali. But sudden heavy rainfall has washed away the flowers leaving the farmers in high debt.

Chandi Medhas for Durga Puja offer a silver lining to artisans in Cuttack
Chandi Medhas for Durga Puja offer a silver lining to artisans in Cuttack

By Ashis Senapati

Chandi Medhas are the traditional silver filigree decorations for Durga and the pandals during the pujas. Silversmiths in Odisha’s Cuttack are busy fulfilling orders to make decorative filigree items that will decorate Durga Puja pandals, which start from October 1.

Chandi Medhas are the traditional silver filigree decorations for Durga and the pandals during the pujas. Silversmiths in Odisha’s Cuttack are busy fulfilling orders to make decorative filigree items that will decorate Durga Puja pandals, which start from October 1.

Breached embankments, repair funds frozen – No celebrations for Durga Puja in villages of Howrah
Breached embankments, repair funds frozen – No celebrations for Durga Puja in villages of Howrah

By Gurvinder Singh

Durga Puja, Bengal's biggest annual event, is just a few days away but residents of 17 villages in Howrah district are in no mood to celebrate because damaged river embankments remain unrepaired due to 'freezing' of MGNREGA funds and there is the ever present threat of their homes being washed away by flood waters like it did last month.

Durga Puja, Bengal's biggest annual event, is just a few days away but residents of 17 villages in Howrah district are in no mood to celebrate because damaged river embankments remain unrepaired due to 'freezing' of MGNREGA funds and there is the ever present threat of their homes being washed away by flood waters like it did last month.

बंगाली शिल्पकार जिन्होंने बनारस में की थी दुर्गा पूजा की शुरुआत
बंगाली शिल्पकार जिन्होंने बनारस में की थी दुर्गा पूजा की शुरुआत

By Ankit Rathore

वाराणसी के बंगाली टोला में आजकल खूब चहल-पहल है क्योंकि कारीगरों ने मां दुर्गा की मूर्तियों को अंतिम रूप दे दिया है। यह इलाका 100 साल से भी पहले अस्तित्व में आया था जब बंगाल के बुजुर्ग लोग अपने अंतिम दिन बिताने के लिए वाराणसी आए थे।

वाराणसी के बंगाली टोला में आजकल खूब चहल-पहल है क्योंकि कारीगरों ने मां दुर्गा की मूर्तियों को अंतिम रूप दे दिया है। यह इलाका 100 साल से भी पहले अस्तित्व में आया था जब बंगाल के बुजुर्ग लोग अपने अंतिम दिन बिताने के लिए वाराणसी आए थे।

इस दुर्गा पूजा पर पश्चिम बंगाल के ज्यादातर मूर्तिकारों के चेहरे पर छायी है मायूसी
इस दुर्गा पूजा पर पश्चिम बंगाल के ज्यादातर मूर्तिकारों के चेहरे पर छायी है मायूसी

By Gurvinder Singh

दुर्गा प्रतिमा बनाने के लिए कारीगर पिछले दो-तीन महीने से रोजाना 17 से 18 घंटे मेहनत कर रहे हैं। उसके बावजूद उनकी कमाई काफी कम है। वो परेशान हैं क्योंकि कच्चे माल, जैसे कि मिट्टी और पुआल की लागत बढ़ गई है। 300 कारीगरों वाले हावड़ा के प्रसस्थ गाँव से एक ग्राउंड रिपोर्ट

दुर्गा प्रतिमा बनाने के लिए कारीगर पिछले दो-तीन महीने से रोजाना 17 से 18 घंटे मेहनत कर रहे हैं। उसके बावजूद उनकी कमाई काफी कम है। वो परेशान हैं क्योंकि कच्चे माल, जैसे कि मिट्टी और पुआल की लागत बढ़ गई है। 300 कारीगरों वाले हावड़ा के प्रसस्थ गाँव से एक ग्राउंड रिपोर्ट

Women in Odisha’s Keonjhar use paper waste to make papier-mache craft, achieve self-reliance
Women in Odisha’s Keonjhar use paper waste to make papier-mache craft, achieve self-reliance

By Ashis Senapati

Around 70 women in Odisha’s Keonjhar district are keeping the ancient papier-mache craft alive by utilising paper waste. These collective efforts have also resulted in these women eking out their livelihoods as the products they make are highly marketable.

Around 70 women in Odisha’s Keonjhar district are keeping the ancient papier-mache craft alive by utilising paper waste. These collective efforts have also resulted in these women eking out their livelihoods as the products they make are highly marketable.

Festive season, craft fairs help Odisha's Kendara singers to find their lost ground
Festive season, craft fairs help Odisha's Kendara singers to find their lost ground

By Ashis Senapati

Two years after finding it unsustainable to pursue their traditional singing, about 150 Kendara singers in Odisha are now back to wandering in the villages, humming songs while playing their cherished musical instrument which dates back to the 12th century. State government’s efforts to include these artists in the craft festivals and the ongoing festive season has brought cheers to the wanderer-singer community. Details here.

Two years after finding it unsustainable to pursue their traditional singing, about 150 Kendara singers in Odisha are now back to wandering in the villages, humming songs while playing their cherished musical instrument which dates back to the 12th century. State government’s efforts to include these artists in the craft festivals and the ongoing festive season has brought cheers to the wanderer-singer community. Details here.

One Festival, Many Hues: Here’s how Dussehra is celebrated in various states of India
One Festival, Many Hues: Here’s how Dussehra is celebrated in various states of India

By गाँव कनेक्शन

From Chhattisgarh’s 75-day long Dussehra celebrations to Dashain in Sikkim, communities across the country celebrate Dussehra with different traditions and rituals. Here’s looking at some of them.

From Chhattisgarh’s 75-day long Dussehra celebrations to Dashain in Sikkim, communities across the country celebrate Dussehra with different traditions and rituals. Here’s looking at some of them.

World Radio Day: All my best memories…
World Radio Day: All my best memories…

By Pankaja Srinivasan

When Freddie Mercury sang “…everything I had to know, I heard it on my radio,” he was speaking for all of us in the 1960s and the 70s.

When Freddie Mercury sang “…everything I had to know, I heard it on my radio,” he was speaking for all of us in the 1960s and the 70s.

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