From Ganga Mud to Natural Colours: Eco-Friendly Durga Maa in Bhadradri Kothagudem
On the final day of the celebrations, the idol will be immersed at the mandap amid the chanting of Vedic mantras. Following the immersion, the mud will be distributed among devotees as prasadam, which can also be used for Tulasi plants.
Bhadradri Kothagudem: Artisans from Kolkata have travelled all the way to Bhadradri Kothagudem to craft an elegant, eco-friendly idol of Goddess Durga at a pandal near Medar Basti. Made of mud and painted with natural colours, the handcrafted idol stands out for its traditional craftsmanship and environmentally friendly materials.
One of the unique features of the idol is that a portion of the mud used to make it was brought from the Hooghly River in Kolkata, a major distributary of the Ganga. The artisans prepared a natural adhesive by boiling tamarind seeds to form a thick paste, which was then mixed with organic colours and used to paint the idol.
The artisans took five days to complete the 10-foot-tall idol. They also brought ornaments from Kolkata to adorn Goddess Durga, giving the idol an elegant and traditional look.
On the final day of the celebrations, the idol will be immersed at the mandap amid the chanting of Vedic mantras. Following the immersion, the mud will be distributed among devotees as prasadam, which can also be used for Tulasi plants.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Navratri Utsav Mandal member Manesh Kumar Agarwal said the organisers had decided to promote devotion while protecting the environment.
“Every year, we install an idol of Goddess Durga. However, this year, we wanted to preserve our culture, promote bhakti and protect nature at the same time. Therefore, we decided to bring artisans from Kolkata to create an eco-friendly idol. ” he said.
“There are several challenges artisans face while making an eco-friendly idol, including getting the right consistency of the mud mixture and carefully shaping the idol. Adding intricate details and decorating it with ornaments require precision and dedication. The process also involves higher costs due to the transportation of artisans from Kolkata and the procurement of natural materials. However, the expense is worthwhile when it comes to protecting the environment,” said Maneesh.
He added that the mandal had been successfully organising pujas and Dandiya nights as part of the Navratri celebrations. Women gather at the venue after 10 pm to participate in Dandiya, he said, adding that the festivities were being organised with the blessings of Goddess Durga.
"I feel ecstatic to be part of the Navratri celebrations. This year, we decided to go for an eco-friendly idol of Maa Durga, and it has turned out beautifully. The idol looks so divine, as if Maa Durga herself is present among us. We all participate in Dandiya, and I thank the committee members for organising the festival on such a grand scale,” said a devotee, Deepa Patel.
