This year the idol-makers in Patna are making Durga idols using Tulsi (basil) beads and incense sticks which will be on display during the ongoing Navaratri festival and Durga Puja.
Each Goddess Durga idol requires at least 50,000 Tulsi beads and five kilograms of incense sticks. It takes about a month to complete a life-size idol. Like every year, the demand for Durga idols has risen this year too. We too want to provide our customers with new and innovative Durga idols," said Shiv Kumar Pandit, an artisan .
Along with conventional Durga idols generally made of clay, bamboo, straw, iron, paper-mache and sand, these artists are dexterously adorning the idols of the goddesses of beauty, and courage using Tulsi beads and incense sticks.
"A lot of hard work goes in when you try something new like Durga idol of Tulsi beads or Durga idol with incense sticks. People are surprised to see these idols", says Chandan Kumar, an idol maker.
In the eastern parts of the country, the Durga Puja festival commences from Wednesday (Oct.17), whereas the Navaratri festival commenced elsewhere last week on Friday (Oct.12).
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/071017/139/6m1r7.html
