Design Resource
Durga Idol Making - Bengaluru
Durga Pooja Celebration
by
Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S. and Lija M. G.
Making Process
The work place is set with sticks inserted to the ground firmly with the required area for the production. Top portion is placed with bamboo sticks that are laid parallelly and tied, over which the tarpaulins are laid that protects the craftsmen from sunlight and rain.
Clay is collected from various parts of India such as the Ganga matti (clay collected from the banks of the River Ganga), Balu matti (one type of West Bengal clay), Thickana matti (another type of clay from West Bengal) and the clay collected from the nearby fields of Bengaluru.
The clay collected from the nearby fields of Bengaluru are smooth therefore it is mixed with rice husk to get more grip while working. If the quantity of clay is small it is mixed in hand, if the quantity is more then it is mixed with feet.
The shape of the idol to be made, the outline is first tied with the bamboo for small and the bigger ones with bamboo and sticks. The base structure is made with hay tied with the rope to the required shapes to which the clay is placed as per the shapes. After this is dried the coat of the clay mixed with hay is applied that gives the final outline to the idols. The face of the idol made with the Pop mould and the clay from the banks of river Ganga is used for this as it gives the better outline (details). The Pole part of the face is covered with freshly mixed clay and the face is fixed firmly, then the head portion is covered.
The structure is applied with water throughout with a brush and wherever finer detailing is required it is given the final touch ups. The hands and the feet are separately made by either hand or mould and then placed firmly, tied in few cases to obtain the required shapes. The designs made for the frames of the statue in few cases are fixed and left for drying in shade and then sunlight.
After the idol is completely dried it is painted either by hand or by the hand gun with required colours. Mostly water colours are generally preferred for painting on the idol. Dress material as per the form of Durga are wrapped around the idol and fixed with nail firmly. For the hair of Durga, jute fibre is immersed in black colour and then fixed, for the Lions hair the jute fibres are made in small bundles and fixed. The Eye portions of the idol is generally painted with either acrylic or poster colours as said by the crafts person. As said by the craftsmen this making of Idol is the group effort of about ten to fifteen members.
