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Durga Puja 2024: A Photo Essay on Resilience Amidst Challenges

Durga Puja 2024 | As artisans work tirelessly to create idols and pandals at CR Park, this year's celebrations are overshadowed by the RG Kar issue, exposing the struggle for justice while embodying the enduring hope that good will triumph over evil.

By Sumit Singh and Syed Abubakr 08 Oct 2024

New Update

Durga Puja 2024: A Photo Essay on Resilience Amidst Challenges | Photo courtesy: Sumit Singh & Syed Abubakr

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Durga Puja 2024 Preparations in Delhi See Unusual Slowdown Ahead of Festivities

Durga Puja 2024 preparations at Delhi's CR Park are in full swing, but the usual festive bustle is missing this year. The Bengali hub is quieter than expected as the celebrations approach.

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Artisans Rest After Hours-Long Idol Making at CR Park Amid Protests Over Kolkata Doctor's Rape and Murder

After hours of crafting Goddess Durga idols at Delhi’s CR Park, artisans take a break. The festive preparations are subdued by ongoing protests demanding justice for the Kolkata doctor who was brutally raped and murdered.

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Posters Seeking Justice for ‘Abhaya’ Seen Outside Pandal

Outside a pandal at Delhi’s CR Park, posters demanding justice for RG Kar Medical College’s victim ‘Abhaya’ (name changed) emerge as idol makers from Kolkata’s Kumortuli face a decline in work and income this Durga Puja 2024, impacting their livelihoods.

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Artisan Applies Final Clay Layer on Durga Puja 2024 Idols Amid Decline in Work

As an artisan at CR Park carefully applies clay to Durga Puja 2024 idols, many colleagues have stayed away this year.

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Faces of Goddess Durga Idols Drying Under the Sun as Artisans Continue Their Dedicated Craft

The faces of Goddess Durga idols dry under the sun at CR Park, where artisans continue their devoted work. Even sex workers from Kolkata’s Sonagachhi are refusing to provide soil for idol-making this year, a symbolic protest in the ongoing fight for justice for Abhaya (name changed).

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Islam Ansari Stitches Clothes for Durga Puja Idols and Pandal Decorations at CR Park

At CR Park, Islam Ansari from Patna stitches clothes for Durga Puja idols, alongside his Kolkata colleagues. With 30 years of experience, he finds joy in contributing to the festivities, planning to return to Bihar for work after the celebrations.

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Ramprasad, Vasudev, and Rajat Gangasagar Constructing the Wooden Structure of the Durga Puja Pandal at CR Park

At CR Park, Ramprasad, Vasudev, and Rajat Gangasagar from Bengal work alongside a team of 20-30 workers to erect the wooden structure of the Durga Puja 2024 pandal. They only come to Delhi during the festive season, showcasing their dedication to this cherished tradition.

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Pandals Prepare for the Grand Celebrations of Durga Puja at CR Park

As artisans work tirelessly to prepare the pandals at CR Park, they embody the spirit of Durga Puja—a celebration of good triumphing over evil—amidst the challenges faced this year.

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Maddyam from South 24 Parganas Brings Joy While Carrying Thermocol Decoratives for the Durga Puja 2024 Pandal

Maddaym, a resident of South 24 Pargana, lifts spirits at the Puja pandal by crafting thermocol decorations. His humorous stories and laughter resonate among co-workers, showcasing the camaraderie and joy that accompany puja preparations.

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Artisans Creating Pandal Decoratives and Painting Idol Eyes at CR Park for Durga Puja 2024

As artisans at CR Park prepare for puja, one crafts beautiful cardboard decorations for the Pandal, while another meticulously paints the eyes of a deity idol. This year, six Durga Puja committees in West Bengal have declined the government's Rs 85,000 grant in response to the RG Kar issue.

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Artisan Paints the Life-Size Durga Idol at CR Park

At CR Park, an artisan meticulously paints a life-size Durga idol as the Mamata Banerjee government increases grants for Durga Puja committees. However, many committees remain resolute in their protest against the law and order situation in West Bengal, refusing to accept the additional funding.

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Another Artisan Undertakes the Painting Assignment of Idols at CR Park

An artisan at CR Park focuses on painting idols for Durga Puja 2024 as the festive economy faces challenges. Many idol makers report a decline in orders, which could significantly impact their earnings this season.

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Sajal, an Artisan from West Bengal’s Krishnanagar, Painting the Goddess Durga Idol

Sajal, an artisan from Krishnanagar, diligently paints the Goddess Durga idol as footfall at local markets reflects a sense of despair. This year, many feel the festive business is worse than it has been since COVID-19, impacting the overall spirit of celebrations.

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Idols Get Ready at CR Park as Durga Puja 2024 Festivities Near

As artisans toil to create idols and pandals at CR Park, the spirit of Durga Puja 2024 stands in stark contrast to the protests and despair surrounding them, embodying the relentless hope for justice and the unwavering belief that good will ultimately triumph over evil.

Authors

Sumit Singh and Syed Abubakr

Tags: Durga Puja West Bengal Mamata Banerjee Doctors dow-jones Delhi Rape Kolkata