Sand art to attract maximum devotees during Durga Puja in Siliguri

Siliguri (West Bengal), Sep.30 : With the Durga Puja just a week away, various community Puja committees in West Bengal wish to fascinate maximum number of crowds to visit their decorative Pandals (makeshift temples).

To add maximum attraction to their respective pandals, Puja committees usually try novel modes for distinction.

Sarada Sevak Sangha Durga Puja Committee, one of the oldest clubs of Siliguri city in Darjeeling District, is taking services of sand artist from Orissa to make a sculpture of Durga for their pandal.

A huge mould of sand has been prepared on which the idol is being designed which will be duly watered so that the idol remains intact.

"Water is its main adhesive. It is maintained by spraying only water on it. If it dries up, it can be duly maintained by sprinkling water," said Manohar Mahapatra.

The master sand artist is working day-night artisan Manohar Mahapatra along with others assisting him to sculpt the most enchanting divine figure of Goddess Durga.

According to Kalyan Mitra, Secretary of Sarada Sevak Sangha, their venture will provide a first hand experience for all those who have not been able to make to the famed Puri beach to know what sand art is.

"What we have thought this time...the sand art, which is not very popular here in this region, and which people have seen on sea beaches only. When we visited the beach, we also found it very impressive, so we thought of promoting it here. People in the region will get information about it. On its basis, we came out with this theme. The other thing is that we wanted to show that by using only natural sand without composing other adhesives and other elements, such a good model structure can be built," said Kanyan Mitra, Secretary of the Durga Puja Committee of Sarada Sevak Sangha, Siliguri.

Mitra is confidant that their Puja pandal will draw a record crowd this year. By Pallav Basu

ANI