Sculptors busy making Durga idols ahead of Durga Puja

As Dasain approaches, sculptors in Lalitpur are busy making idols of the goddess Durga for Durga Puja.

They are preparing clay idols in the Kupondole and Sanepa areas of Lalitpur. The sculptors working in Sanepa have come from Sarlahi district.

The idols depict the goddess riding a lion and slaying the demon Mahishasur. The clay needed to make the idols is brought from Bhaktapur.

The artists mould the clay into different shapes to give form to the idols, taking special care to make them attractive. They say making the idols requires both skill and hard work.

The price of an idol depends on its size. According to the sculptors, a single idol sells for around NPR 30,000 to 50,000.

Since demand for such idols rises during Dasain and Durga Puja, the sculptors are working to finish them before the worship begins.

The nine forms of Durga are called Navadurga, and devotees worship her as the goddess of power, courage, prosperity and wellbeing. Dasain is celebrated as a festival marking the victory of truth over falsehood and justice over injustice. Dasain began today with Ghatasthapana, and these forms of Durga are worshipped throughout Navaratri.