Bishwajit Pal, recognized as a skilled artisan known for creating innovative and diverse idols, has chosen jute as his medium, bringing the idols to life through artistic jute work. Photo: BSS

NATORE, Sept 23, 2025 (BSS) - Idol makers, known as Pals, of the district are 
passing busy times ahead of Sarodiyo Durga Puja, the biggest religious 
festival of the Hindu community.

This year, 368 temples and mandaps across the district are set to host Durga 
Puja celebrations.

Following the invocation of Goddess Durga during Mahalaya, the main religious 
formalities are set to begin soon. The Bodhon (awakening) of Goddess Durga 
will take place this upcoming Sunday, at the juncture of Panchami and 
Shashti. Consequently, a flurry of idol-making activities is underway across 
the temples and mandaps.

Sukumar Pal, an idol maker of Palpara who learned the work from his father, 
is diligently working. He is making eight idols this year, assisted by other 
family members. 

Sukumar Pal is making the most expensive idol for the 200-year-old 
Radhaballav Jiu Akhra in the town. He received a fee of Taka 2.25 lakh for 
making the idol for this ancient temple. 

He hopes the idol that he created for the temple will win the hearts of the 
visitors. Following the installation of the idol in the temple, colouring 
work is now in progress, Sukumar stated. 

Kunal Agarwala, general secretary of the Radhaballav Jiu Akhra committee, 
also expressed his hope that the idol at the two-hundred-year old traditional 
temple will be truly spectacular and worth seeing. 

Kallol Maitra, priest of the temple, confirmed that the main formalities of 
the puja will commence with Bodhon on the coming Sunday, after which the 
idols will be opened for visitors.
 
Meanwhile, Tanmoy Sarkar, who holds a Master's degree in Fine Arts from 
Rajshahi University (RU), is working on idols at his factory in the Mohanpur 
area. 

Sarkar noted that idol creation, colouring, and decoration are all taking 
place simultaneously in this final stage.

Idol maker Bishwajit Pal has nearly completed work on four idols at his own 
home. Pal is upholding the legacy and reputation of his father, Nimai Chandra 
Pal, by making visually stunning idols. 

Bishwajit Pal is recognized as a skilled artisan known for creating 
innovative and diverse idols. Last year, he received attention for 
constructing an idol using paddy. This year, he has chosen jute as his 
medium, bringing the idols to life through artistic jute work.

Bishwajit Pal is supported in his work by his family. His son, Abhijit Pal, a 
Grade nine student, assists by working on the eyes of the idols. His wife, 
Ava Rani Pal, also contributes, stating that she finds joy in helping with 
the idol making during her leisure time from household chores.

Advocate Khagendra Nath Roy, acting president of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan 
Parishad Natore District Branch, confirmed about 368 Puja madaps across the 
district and noted that the idol making work is now nearing completion.

Regarding security, Natore Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Tariqul 
Islam mentioned that security perimeters have been established not just 
around the temples and mandaps, but also around the homes and factories where 
the idols are being made. 

The SP noted that the idol-making process is advancing smoothly, and he hoped 
that the Durga Puja arrangements will be completed in the same proper and 
beautiful manner.