Muslim artisans add colour to Durga Puja

Patna, Sep 30 (IANS) Over 200 Muslim artisans are giving finishing touches to replicas of Hindu temples and palaces crafted here for the Durga Puja.

'We have been working for 10 days to create something attractive. We feel proud as our creations give pleasure to thousands who come to offer prayers to Durga,' Mohammed Abid, one of the craftsmen here, told IANS.Muslim craftsmen have been invited from West Bengal and Jharkhand by organisers of festival committees in the hope of competing with one another this festival season, which has become highly market-driven over the years.'Earlier, only a few organisers used to invite Muslim artisans to build marquees in the form of replicas of temples and palaces. Now no one wants to lag behind,' said a member of one of the several committees.A team of Muslim artisans, led by a master craftsman, is building a replica of Rajasthan's Rajwada Fort at Dak Bungalow Road in the heart of the city.Other replicas constructed by them include that of Gujarat's Akshardham temple and the Tirupati temple and Nizam's fort in Andhra Pradesh.'I have been decorating and making huge marquees for Hindu festivals since I was a boy. It gives us a livelihood as well as satisfaction and earns us laurels for contributing positively,' said Mohammed Salim, a young artisan from Jharkhand's Jamtara district. His siblings and relatives have followed in his footsteps.'Without the Muslim artisans and craftsmen, we cannot think of these beautiful marquees,' said a festival organiser. 'We give them respect, honour and money for building these beautiful creations that add colour to the festival.'Shamshuddin, another artist, said he and his colleagues got rewarded in many ways.'All of us get new clothes and gifts, apart from money,' he said. An assistant artisan earns Rs.5,000-7,000 for around 20 days of work and an expert craftsman earns between Rs.15,000 and Rs.20,000.Several Muslim youths and businessmen in the city too have joined in the Durga Puja celebrations. While some have donated funds for community prayers, others are helping to put up marquees in Muslim-dominated areas like Sabzibagh, Kunkun Singh Lane and Ramna Road.'It is a classical case of communal harmony,' said Abid Ali, a puja committee member.Some of these artisans are also making effigies of Hindu mythological demon king Ravana, which are to be set ablaze on Dussehra that coincides with the last day of Durga Puja.The Bihar government has beefed up security to ensure that the festive season passes off peacefully.

'The state has remained free of communal trouble for the last few years,' said Additional Director General of Police Abhyanand. 'We have put all police stations on high alert to avert any untoward incidents. The flying squad would be keeping a close watch.'