With the auspicious festival of Navratri fast approaching, festive preparations across the region have picked up tremendous momentum. Throughout the district of Azamgarh, work on shaping sacred idols for numerous community Durga Puja pandals is progressing at an energetic pace. Amid these seasonal activities, a workshop situated in Rani Ki Sarai within the district has produced a visually stunning sculpture that is rapidly becoming a major point of public fascination. The singular highlight of this creation is that it brings together the forms of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati within a single unified figure, creating a divine sight that observers describe as both wondrous and captivating.
Collaboration Between Local Artisans and Bengal Craftsmen
According to sculptor Amarjeet Singh Patel, his workshop brings together dedicated local craftsmen alongside skilled artisans brought in from West Bengal and Kolkata. Together, this team has been busy producing a wide spectrum of traditional and contemporary figures designed to match the custom orders and aesthetic expectations of festive committees. Whatever design specifications or artistic styles organizers request, the craftsmen replicate them with precision. Among all the ongoing works, this unified representation has emerged as the central topic of discussion, offering viewers the distinct visual experience of two sacred presences joined within one sculptural frame.
Amarjeet Singh Patel noted that an idol of this particular composition will be presented for the very first time in any Durga Puja pandal across Azamgarh district. He emphasized that the successful execution of this intricate concept was made possible by the persistent dedication, technical patience, and artistic capabilities of the participating local craftsmen.
Inspiration Drawn from Social Media and Traditional Craftsmanship
Sharing the background behind the design, the sculptor revealed that the initial spark for this presentation came directly from the social media platform Instagram. After spotting the creative design online, he resolved to translate that digital concept into a tangible reality through clay and straw. Bringing this conceptual piece to final completion required more than 15 days of intensive physical effort, with the total expenditure involved in the project coming to approximately 50,000 rupees.
Explaining the materials and structural techniques used in the crafting process, he stated that the workshop relied strictly on conventional artisan methods despite the modern origin of the idea. The foundational phase began with shaping the core framework using straw, after which successive layers of dark clay were applied to build volume and strength. Finally, a specialized coat of sandy soil clay was utilized to achieve an immaculate, smooth finish across the entire surface. It was only through this methodical multi-layered treatment that the finished sculpture assumed its complete and polished appearance.
