Familiarity with the soil since childhood. Yuthimani Pal's childhood was spent helping his father in making idols and seeing the form of the goddess slowly emerge under his father's masterful touch on the ground. He did not know then that one day his father's work would become the family's means of survival. After the death of her father, this young woman from Baira Palpara of Sherpur took the work taught by him as her profession.
Yuthimani Pal gave HSC exam from Sherpur Model Girls College this year. The dream of this young woman who is waiting for the results, will get good results and study in the Faculty of Fine Arts. However, besides fulfilling his dreams, he also has to handle the responsibility of his mother and younger sister. His mother Rekha Rani Pal is a housewife. Younger sister Priyanka Rani Pal studies in class five in a local school.
Last minute preparations were going on in Mandapa Mandapa before the start of Autumn Durga Puja. The busyness of idol makers also peaked at that time. Juthimani has been busy making idols from morning to late night. The shape of the goddess has been carved into the clay idol by skillful hands. There was a rush to explain the idol on time.
Yuthimani has done the work of making 18 mandap idols for this year's Durga Puja. Along with the mother, three helpers were also hired to finish the work on time. The job that he once learned standing by his father's side is now the main source of livelihood for his family.
The family runs on the income of making idols
After the death of father Dilip Kumar Pal on December 22, 2024, Yuthimani's life changed. The family fell into uncertainty after losing the breadwinner of the family. Among the three daughters, the eldest daughter got married in Sirajganj. He is busy with his family. As a result, the responsibility of the family with mother and younger sister fell on Yuthimani's shoulders. Along with education, he chose idol making as a profession which he learned from his father.
The task of making idols is not so simple; It requires skill, patience, hard work and craftsmanship. Juthimani gradually made a name for himself by using that skill even in the face of adversity. Now there is a demand for idols made by him in Sherpur district city as well as in different upazilas.
Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja idols were made by Yuthimani during the year. Their family runs on the income of these two seasons. Apart from the work of making idols, he also has to fulfill the responsibility of continuing his education, taking care of his mother and providing for the education of his younger sister.
Yuthimani said, "I saw the work of making idols from my father. Baba used to wear the idol's clothes. Since then, interest in this work is created. After the sudden death of my father, I boldly started making idols. In addition to education, I make idols twice a year. Now our family runs on this income.
Yuthimani said that he has made 18 mandap idols this year. He said that he has worked in different upazilas besides the district city. He got wages ranging from Tk 20,000 to Tk 45,000 depending on the size of each mandap idol.
Mother Rekha Rani Pal assisted her daughter in making the idol. He said, 'When her father was working, Yuthi would sit and watch. I never thought that one day my daughter would do the work taught by her father. Now Juthimani works twice a year to make idols in addition to his studies. I live next to him. I had to work day and night for three months for this year's puja. At this age, he works with so much work pressure. Our family runs on his income.
Behind the joy of Durga Puja lies the story of the labor of many artisans like the Yuthimanis. Dhiren Chandra Pal (70), another craftsman of Palpara, who makes idols, said, 'Apart from education, the girl has taken control of the world by making idols. He learned to work from his father. He will do better in future.'
