Artisans across Narsingdi are working day and night to complete idols of Goddess Durga and other deities as the Bengali Hindu community's largest festival 'Sharadiya Durga Puja' approaches.
In workshops throughout Narsingdi Sadar, craftsmen are shaping clay over wooden frameworks, painting intricate facial features, and adding traditional embellishments to figures of Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kartik and Ganesha.
While demand remains strong the idol makers report rising material costs and higher artisan wages leading to increased prices for finished idols. According to local makers, crafting larger, detailed idols takes weeks of labor, significantly raising workload as deadlines near.
This year, at least 361 puja mandaps across the district are preparing to host the festival which formally runs from October 16 (Maha Shasthi) through October 22 (Bijoya Dashami).
Makhon Das, Acting President of the Narsingdi Puja Udjapan Parishad, expressed confidence in smooth celebrations following assurances from local authorities.
The district administration and law enforcement agencies have pledged comprehensive security measures with CCTV monitoring, fire safety checks and reliable power connections across all venues to ensure a peaceful atmosphere.
