It is the turn of Durga idols, Dhoolpet buzzing with activity

Dhoolpet: It is well known that one can see a variety of Durga idols in West Bengal but a visit to Dhoolpet is enough to break that notion. Hyderabad is giving the eastern state serious competition. In the last few years, a number of Telugu households started celebrating Dasara in a big way. Rohit, K, a resident of Amberpet says, “We set aside some amount collected for Ganesh festival and use if for Durga puja.”

In the dusty by-lanes of Dhoolpet, artisans are now busy giving final touches to Durga idols. Raj Singh, who has been making idols for close to two decades says, “The number of orders are increasing with each passing year. We now get busy after the Ganesh festival is over.” The pandal organisers are also very particular about the design of idols during the Devi Navaratrulu celebrations.

People from other states who come to Dhoolpet to buy idols. Plaster of Paris is banned in some states, so they come here said Sanjay, an idol maker who has been in the business for two decades. Ramanathan, a pandal organiser of Vidyanagar area said, “Every year, we celebrate the Devi Navaratrulu with ultimate devotion and gaiety. We order Durga Devi idol one month before the festivities to give enough time for the artisans to work freely. We suggest the artist that what elements are must be displayed on the idol.”