A Durga idol crafted from more than 150,000 matchsticks and over 10kg of silk thread has become a major attraction ahead of this year’s Sharadiya Durga Puja in Satkhira.
The unusual idol, created at the Dhulihar-Brahmarajpur Sri Sri Durga Puja Mandap in Satkhira Sadar, is drawing visitors eager to admire its intricate craftsmanship.
With Mahalaya observed on Friday, marking the beginning of the festive season, temples and puja mandaps across the district are bustling with activity as artisans put the finishing touches to idols and decorations.
At the Brahmarajpur temple, more than 150,000 matchsticks have been meticulously attached to a clay idol to create elaborate patterns requiring exceptional precision and patience. Even a minor mistake could ruin the design, making the work particularly challenging.
Idol maker Nabodip Sarkar said he had seen similar artwork in Kolkata in 2023 and decided to introduce the technique in Satkhira.
Four artisans have been working around the clock, sometimes until 2am or 3am, to complete the idol, he said. Sarkar has also been commissioned to make Durga idols at four locations this year, including in Satkhira and Kushtia.
He said special adhesives and chemicals had been used to neutralise the combustible properties of the match heads, with precautions taken to minimise safety risks.
Amit Kumar Ghosh, assistant treasurer of the Brahmarajpur Sarbojanin Sri Sri Durga Mandir committee, said the artisans’ fees alone amounted to around Tk1.3 lakh, while the total budget for this year’s celebrations was approximately Tk5 lakh.
The puja, organised by zamindar Pashupati Mitra, has been celebrated for more than 200 years, he said.
Unconventional idols have become something of a tradition at the temple. Last year, an idol made with 100kg of Chinigura rice attracted visitors from far and wide. Encouraged by the response, the organisers decided to experiment with another unusual material this year.
Safety concerns surrounding the matchstick idol prompted an inspection and trial on September 16 involving Satkhira Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Arnab Kumar Dutta, the officer-in-charge of Satkhira Sadar police station and officials from Fire Service and Civil Defence.
Closed-circuit television cameras have also been installed throughout the temple premises to ensure the safety of the idol and visitors.
Preparations are underway at puja mandaps across the district, including in Shyamnagar, Kaliganj, Debhata, Assasuni, Tala and Kalaroa. Alongside traditional clay idols built over bamboo and straw frameworks, artisans are experimenting with different decorative designs.
The festival also provides employment for potters, bamboo and wood craftsmen, painters and decoration workers.
Biswanath Ghosh, general secretary of the Satkhira district unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, said 590 puja mandaps would host celebrations in the district this year, up from 587 last year.
Mahalaya on Friday marked the beginning of the countdown to the festival. Maha Shashthi will be observed on October 17, while the celebrations will conclude with Bijoya Dashami on October 21.
According to Hindu tradition, the goddess will arrive on horseback and depart by boat this year.
