Durga puja in the Millennium city of Cuttack has a special shine. But it is not the lights rather the intricate silver filigree or ’tarakashi’ designs used in the jewellery of the Goddess and the tableau that renders that divine sparkle. Perhaps one of its kind in the world, these designs are the creations of some of the deft craftsmen or ‘roupyakars’ who are carrying on with the legacy despite many odds.
One among them is Bisu Dey of Sheikh Bazaar. Bisu’s forefathers had created the first 250 kg silver tableau or Chandi medha of Cuttack that was installed at the Choudhary Bazaar puja pandal way back in 1953. And 56 years later, Bisu is using his expertise to re-model the same medha this year. With a team of six ‘roupyakars’, he is also crafting the two ‘Champa Hara’, that will be made of 500 gm of gold each, for the idols of Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lamxi which flank the main idol of Devi Durga. He had also made the golden crown for the Devi in 2002.
Bisu started young at the age of 17. “I learnt the craft from my father and he had acquired the skill from my grandfather. My father wanted me to carry on with the family business so after my high school, I started learning filigree work from him,” he says. Having achieved expertise in the field for over 30 years now, he still believes in hand-crafting his designs. “A majority of the Chandi medhas in Cuttack are machine-finished. But the Choudhary Bazaar medha is mostly hand-crafted and is in no way inferior to machine designs,” Bisu says. Besides, the artisans at least get few months of work if we opt for hand work, he adds.
Agrees silver filigree artist Bishen Naik of Haripur who was a part of the team of artisans that designed the Chandi medha for Haripur-Dolamundai Puja Committee. The Committee installed a 500 kg silver backdrop in 2005. “There are many problems dogging the filigree sector. While there is no government support for the artisans, machine products are only adding nails to the coffin,” he laments. This year, Naik is working on silver motifs and large floral designs that would be added to the main medha of the Puja Committee.
Like Bishen and Bisu, Satya Maharana of Kathagada Sahi too is making some more silver ornaments that will be added to the existing Chandi medha of Kathagada Sahi. Maharana says demand for silver filigree works for Durga Puja pandals has always been high with more and more puja committees wanting to embellish their medhas with silver. Maharana was among the craftsmen who gave shape to Kathagada Sahi Chandi Medha last year. This year, he and his team are preparing silver ornaments and weapons for the Goddess.
All these three master craftsmen feel Durga Puja is the only time of the year when their skill gets recognised. “On all other days, it is the show room owners who get the compliments for selling exquisite designs made by us. It is only during Durga Puja that craftsmen like us get the actual price and appreciation for our work,” says Bisu.
diana@epmltd.com