Rayagada: Even as local earthen idol makers have changed profession due to lack of encouragement and increasing popularity of idols coming from outside the state, Banamali Behera from Kendrapara still sticks to the vocation and manages to survive on this.
Banamali, a native of Baluria village of Pattamundai area in Kendrapara district, had come to Rayagada about 40 years back to eke out a living. At present he has a makeshift workshop under Rayagada over-bridge where he gives shape to 200-odd semi-built idols.
Apart from Sadar region, he along with his son and a helping hand makes idols of Khudurukuni, Radhakrishna, Ganesh, Biswakarma, Durga, Gajalaxmi, Kartikeswar, Saraswati and Charateswari for customers across the district during festive season. He also makes idols for mandaps when he gets such orders, he said, adding, they make something around `8,000 a month. He sends half his earnings home and keeps rest for their maintenance. He doesn’t know any other skill than giving shapes to clay which he has mastered at the age of 20, Banamali said.
The three generally come to the town ahead of every festive season and leave at the season’s end. During off season, it becomes difficult to keep the family kitchen warm, the 58-year-old clay sculptor said. However, religious Banamali takes pride in the fact that the skill has given him some sort of recognition in the town. His commitment to the work and ability to shift gear with the time has kept him alive in this seasonal business despite stiff competition from the idol makers of other states.
He admits that the earnings from idol making are not adequate to manage a family these days. Though natural colours are eco friendly, contemporary artists fall upon synthetic colour to add to the attraction of idols which has affected his business. Besides, the cost escalation of raw materials like colour, attires of idols, sand, sutli, bamboo, straw, wooden plank and cotton cloths has adversely affected his margin.
This apart, the demand for earthen idols is on decline due to popularity of idols made from plaster of Paris, the sculptor said. There is no dearth of talents and raw materials in the state but lack of government encouragement prevents many aspiring youths from embracing the profession, Banamali said. People here won’t depend upon idol makers of other states if local artists get proper training and official support, he added. PNN
