always ready to add the finishing touches to the idol. Kartik Pal has been making idols since 1950’s, when Durga Puja was mostly a home affair. Now, he finds things have changed a lot along with time. Talking to Bangalinet, he said, “ We try to mould the shape of mother as we think she should look like. It gives us a power. We forget our day-to-day miseries and find solace through our work. Financially, this is the most lucrative period for us. This season is the one we wait for throughout the year. This year (2001) we have made a 4 ft. idol of fiber weighing 7 kgs. for Manchester, U.K. ”

The light decorators __________________
The glittering lights that grace the Puja Mandaps are the creation of some handful of artists of Chandannagar. Adept at this form of art these artists are always on the lookout of eventful occurrence in the national or international arena

throughout the year. Known for their powerful artistic expression through lights they are in great demand through out the country. During Durga Puja, almost the entire city is adorned with the lighting works of Chandannagar. Paresh Pal one of the artists said to Bangalinet, “We start work from the month of March and we earn around 20,000 to 40,000 yearly. Besides, it being a financially beneficial part of the year,we have

other means of livelihood for the rest of the year. Durga Puja is the time to rejoice and our joy is reflected through the glittering lights of the city."

Purohit___________________________ 
Gobinda Chakraborty, the Kulpurohit of the family of Sabarno Roychowdhuri avails from Mohishadal in Midnapur. Trained in Sanskrit and vedas from an early age, he assisted his father in performing puja. Three years hence, he has taken over from his father and performs puja, maintaining the austerities. Bangalinet had an interesting chat with him on the eve of Durga Puja. Purohit Chakraborty follows the Durga Bhakti Tarangini method to perform the Puja

maintaining the 398-year-old tradition. Durga Bhakti Tarangini is composed by Kabi Vidyapati of Mithila. He says, "The puja atmosphere and methods remain same in the Roychowdhury household as was in the beginning. The tithis are strictly and rigorously followed missing out nothing. Durga Puja for me is a packed up schedule. Moreover it is the time for worshipping the Mother Goddess.”