Artisans in Ranaghat, Nadia district of West Bengal are aiming for a Guinness World Record with their monumental 125-foot Durga idol for this year's Durga Puja.
Led by Abhiyan Sangh from Kamalpur village, the skilled team dedicates 12 to 14 hours daily to craft the towering figure using clay, straw, and bamboo.
If accomplished, this will establish a new Guinness World Record for the largest idol of the deity.
Their ambitious endeavor seeks to surpass last year's record of an 88-foot idol set by a Kolkata club, marred by damage due to pandal overcrowding.
To ensure the idol remains undamaged this time, artisans are opting for a fiber cast to enhance durability and reduce weight. They are meticulously controlling the idol's weight to prevent any damage during handling and rotation.
Alongside the colossal Durga, the artisans are crafting 40-foot idols of Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesha.
Last year, ten Bengali artisans collaborated over three months to create a Durga idol adorned with 1.25 lakh American diamonds in Churu district, Rajasthan.
Pandit Balmukund Vyas, responsible for adorning the grand Durga idol at Churu's Satsang Bhavan, described the statue of "Ashtabhuja Maa Durga" riding on a lion, measuring nine-and-a-half feet in length and four-and-a-half feet in width.
The pandal attracted numerous devotees who came to seek the blessings of the goddess.
Durga Puja, celebrated fervently across West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, and Bihar, symbolises the triumph of good over evil with Goddess Durga's victory over demon Mahishasur.
The festival spans ten days, commencing officially on its sixth day as Goddess Durga descends to Earth.
Durga Puja is revered not only as a religious event but also as a cultural extravaganza that unites communities in a vibrant showcase of devotion and artistic prowess.
Durga Puja spans 10 days, beginning on its sixth day, symbolising the arrival of Goddess Durga alone on Earth.
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