Kendrapara: Puja time is the best time for artisans making traditional musical instruments.
That is the time for which artisans making Mrudanga, Tabala, Pakhwaj, Dhol, Nabadya and other instruments wait as people generally purchase them to play before their deities.
Around 30 families of Kendrapara, Marshaghai, Garadapur and Ramnagar have been earning their bread by making Mrudanga, Tabala, Pakhwaj, Dhol and other musical instruments.
Most of the artisans are either from West Bengal or Bangladeshi immigrants who settled here.
The art of making traditional musical instruments is now almost extinct thanks to changing musical tastes. Nowadays, it is very rare to see youths listening to traditional music.
But during Durga Pjua, Gajalaxmi Puja and Kali Puja, the religious play traditional musical instruments in front of their deities.
The dexterous fingers of Bimal Das, 67, and his six-member family including his wife, son and sons-in-law of Marawadipati in Kendrapara town have been making traditional musical instruments for long.
“I learnt the art of making musical instruments from my father while we were living in Maliganja near Dhaka in Bangladesh. During the Bangladesh war in 1971, we left Bangladesh and settled in Kendrapara,” said Bimal.
The brightly coloured Mrudanga, Dhol and other musical instruments with painted petals reflect fine craftsmanship.
“Things have changed over the years,” said Babu Das, another artisan. “The cost of a Mrudanga is around Rs 1,000, and it takes three days to make one. An artisan makes Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 a month by making these kinds of musical instruments,” he added.
“During the 1980s the loudspeaker blaring film music replaced traditional musical instruments. The people’s regard for traditional music disappeared due to DJ songs, and youths nowadays do not like traditional music,” said Uttam Das, another artisan.
The artisans usually sell musical instruments at temples, mutts and dance and music schools.
But during Puja they get large orders as people purchase them for use in puja pandals and other festive gatherings. During this time, an artisan earns around Rs 25,000.
The artisans hope that their business would expand in future due to legal restrictions on using loud speakers and DJ music.
PNN