Odisha braces up for Durga Puja, the celebrations of which will remain low-key for second consecutive year due to Covid restrictions. Like last year, there will be no gold and silver tableaus in the silver city Cuttack which has left the artisans in despair.
Before pandemic struck, every year the filigree workers in the city used to earn a decent amount by designing the gold and silver tableaus for the idol. But in the last two years due to the pandemic situation they haven’t made any ornaments for the idols.
And if made, most of those could not be used. According to them, they are going through their roughest patch as financial losses coupled with no income generation have made their lives miserable.
This year, the state government has fixed that height of idols would not exceed 4 feet in view of Covid guidelines issued. The rituals will be performed as earlier however the celebrations will remain low-key. The Commissionerate Police, on the other hand, has warned of stringent action against forceful demand of donations for conducting Durga Puja.