The 10-day-long Durga Puja festival, also referred to as Durgotsava or Sharadotsav, plays a vital role for the business of age old cottage industry of garlands and decorative items as they make immense profit during this festival time. It is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates the worship of the Hindu goddess Durga.
The ornamental items which are used for adorning the idols as well as the pandals (make shift temples) creates a colourful atmosphere all around and a flurry of festivities, resulting in double profit for the industry populace.
One of such centre for producing decorative items is led by Narayan Rudra Paul at the Aralia area in the outskirts here. Paul started this business on his own around 17-18 years back in a much unorganized manner. But today his business has picked up well and growing at a fast pace.
Along with involving his own family members into his business, Paul has shown the path to many others. So much so that today he is an inspiration for many in this little landlocked state.
His works are highly appreciated by people and has fetched him a huge demand for his products.
Throughout the year they make garlands and wait for the puja season to begin as the demand shoots up during this period. The artisans work round the clock for producing decorative items.
Narayan Rudra Paul said, "The work starts right from the month of Baisakh and continues till Kali puja. Besides this we also work for the decorators who are engaged in marriage party."
"Our business is mainly during six months with the help of which we run for the year. Few locals are also there while other comes from outside and take raw materials to do the work in their house during their leisure time," he added.
They sell products to Belonia, Teliamura and Khowai.
As the prices of basic raw material have almost doubled, the artists are still somehow managing their business. Adding on to the problem is the downfall in skilled labour. The shortage of skilled labour acts as the biggest hurdle in their business.
Biplab Datta, a worker here said, "This was initially started by my father-in-law and now I and my wife are also engaged here. We make garlands and decorative items for pujas and for marriage. This year the market is little dull as the price of thing is very high."
"Along with us few local women are also engaged in this work. Few women work here while other work from their own houses," he added.
"During Biswakarma and Durga puja the sale is very good and again during New Year and Ganesh puja we have good business. The number of puja happening every year has increased and we cannot fulfill the demand because of shortage of skilled labour," Datta added.
Urging for some financial help from the government, Datta said, "If could get some financial help from the government in the form of loan then their business would multiply by several folds."
The Durga Puja witnesses people from Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tripura and West Bengal, who celebrate the festival with pomp and gaiety.
Rabindra Chandra Saha, who hails from Teliamura, around 50 kilometers from here, runs a business in the same line said, "We start taking items right from the Biswakarma puja followed by Durga puja and then Laxmi puja."
"We are from the outskirts of the area so we have to give orders in advance. This year the market is like the previous years but number of pujas has increased," he added.
Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where at least ten percent population is Hindu.
The festival culminates with the immersion of the Durga murti.
