Kolkata, Oct. 9 -- Parbatipur, a village in Bengal, stitches Hindus and Muslims together in the sacred strands of Maa Durga's flowing locks, weaving a timeless tale of communal harmony, shared livelihoods and a bond that transcends religion.
Around 90 Muslim families in the Howrah village are involved in the initial stages of making idol hair from raw jute. The process involves cleaning, washing, dyeing and drying the fibres before they are processed into strands of different lengths and textures. Hindu women from the same and neighbouring village then braid the prepared hair, fitting the work around their daily household chores. The finished products are supplied to idol-makers, including those in Kolkata's Kumartuli.
However, the changing socio-political landscape of Bengal has raised concerns among some artisans about the future of their age-old tradition. Sheikh Nabab, a resident of Parbatipur, said they had never previously felt apprehensive about their religious identity while making adornments for Hindu deities.
"Earlier, we never gave a second thought to being Muslims while making the quintessential adornment for Maa Durga and other deities. Now, we fear whether this age-old tradition will be allowed to continue," he said.
Alongside these concerns, rising raw material costs have put further pressure on the artisans. Rafik Injamul, another resident, said raw jute that cost around Rs 90 per unit last year now costs between Rs 140 and Rs 160. He attributed the increase to the halt in imports of raw jute from Bangladesh. However, selling price of finished idol hair has not increased proportionately, squeezing artisans' margins.
The craft involves several stages of processing. Red for Lord Shiva and black for other deities. For the families engaged in the work, it is not merely a seasonal occupation but also a source of livelihood and a legacy inherited from their forebears.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.