- Final touch being given to idols
- From swan, lotus to banana leaves, goddess Saraswati will be seen
- Glut of idols with bungalow decorations
- Craftsmen busy in making idols in factories
In Kashi, on Vasant Panchami, the worship of Goddess Saraswati, the presiding deity of learning, is celebrated with great pomp and gaiety. Apart from the clubs in the city, the fervor of Saraswati Pujanotsav is also visible in homes and schools. On the one hand, where the worship organizers are busy with the Saraswati Pujanotsav, on the other hand, the artisans are also busy making idols of Vagdevi. The work of preparing the idols is going on very fast at the craftsmen. The painting work is yet to be done.
This time Saraswati Pujanotsav will be celebrated on 26th January. This time also the craftsmen are doing innovative experiments on the idols of Vagdevi. By the way, keeping in mind the demand and choice of the puja organisers, the craftsmen are busy in giving the final shape to the idols. This time, somewhere in the puja pandals, Vagdevi will be seen riding on an old Kolkata rickshaw, and somewhere she will be sitting on a banana leaf.
If Vagdevi is seen riding, she will be sitting somewhere on a banana leaf. Somewhere a swan will be seen pulling Maa Saraswati sitting on a rickshaw. Apart from this, at some places the mother will be seen sitting on the lotus flower and at some places on the dome.
Gopalchandra Dey, the craftsman of Vishwanath Murti Kala Bhavan located in Devnathpura, says that this time 68 idols have been made in his factory. Due to the weather, there are problems in drying the idols. Five artisans of Kolkata Kumhar Toli are busy day and night in preparing the idols at their place. Sunil Pal is involved in preparing the eyes of the idols and Rasiya Pal, Manu Pal and Bapi Pal are there to get them dressed.
Most of the idols of Maa Saraswati range from 6 to 12 feet. The modern bungalow style statue is 8 feet tall. The 9 feet idol of Bhojubir has Ganesha in the background. While mother Saraswati is playing Veena in front of him. Similarly, in Shivpur, an 11-foot maa will be seen playing Veena. In one idol, Kalidas is cutting the branch of the tree on which he is sitting and mother Saraswati will be seen playing Veena next to him.
In one idol, Kalidas is cutting the branch of the tree on which he is sitting and mother Saraswati will be seen playing Veena next to him. Kamal Pushp Maa will be sitting in Khojwaan while the shadow of the sun will be seen above her. Mother will also be seen riding on the ancient rickshaw of Kolkata. Mother will be seen sitting in a dome in Chowkighat. While in Kashipura, the mother will be seen sitting in the middle of a five-faced snake. The painting work is yet to be done.
