(BSS) – As Sharadiya Durga Puja draws near, Rajshahi’s idol-making hubs (Pratima Palli) are abuzz with activity as artisan put the final touches to idols ahead of the festivities.

Working day and night, the clay artists are spending busy hours giving the finishing touches to the clay, bringing out intricate designs, sculpting the fingers and toes, and mending cracks in the structure.

As the day of Mahalaya draws closer, the work pressure and anxiety of the artists are increasing.

Kartik Chandra Pal, a veteran clay artist from the Alupatti area of the city, is making a total of 28 idols this time, of which 21 will be installed in various mandaps across Rajshahi metropolis.

The remaining idols will be sent to various surrounding regions including temples in Naogaon, Bagmara, Bagha and Rajabari.

Kartik Chandra Pal, who came into this art following his father and grandfather, said that with 35-36 years of long experience, he has been running his own clay art business in Rajshahi continuously for 26 years.

The work, which has been going on for almost five months since the month of Baishakh this year, is now in the final stage of shaping. Several other assistant artists under him are working day and night.

He said that the clay work of the idols has to be finished before Mahalaya to quickly start the painting work, and later Goddess Durga will be decorated with clothes and ornaments.

A kind of risk and anxiety remains in the minds of the artists until the idols reach the mandaps safely.

However, expressing relief that the police administration is keeping regular contact, he expressed hope that, like in the past, the festival will be celebrated this time too in peace and harmony among people of all religions including Hindus and Muslims.

At the same time, artist Arun Kumar Pal said they are working together with the aim of supplying idols to the mandaps quickly and flawlessly.

On the other hand, a festive mood and extensive preparations have developed across the metropolis centering on Durga Puja.

Achintya Kumar Biswas Santu, President of Rajshahi Metropolitan unit of Hindu Buddhist Christian Welfare Front, said that while 77 pujas were held in Rajshahi metropolis last year, this year the number of mandaps has increased to 85.

With the aim of celebrating the puja in a peaceful environment, all lists have been submitted to the district administration, divisional commissioner and police commissioner.

In the law and order meeting, demand has been made for round-the-clock security at the idol-making sites and mandaps so that no untoward incident occurs.

Special measures have also been taken by the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) to ensure the security of the puja mandaps.

Deputy Police Commissioner at Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) Gaziur Rahman said that apart from maintaining special surveillance on each of the 85 puja mandaps, police personnel in plain clothes are collecting information at the field level.

Each puja celebration committee has been instructed to install CCTV cameras and deploy adequate volunteers of their own.

According to the 2026 calendar, the invocation of the Goddess will begin with Mahalaya on October 10.

Subsequently, the Sharadiya Durga festival will conclude with immersion on Vijaya Dashami on October 21, after Maha Panchami on October 16, Maha Shashti on October 17, Maha Saptami on October 18, Maha Ashtami on October 19 and Maha Navami on October 20.