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COVID-19 fear dampens Durga Puja shopping and fervour

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Hardly few days left for the much-awaited Durga Puja festival but puja fever yet to grip the entire locality following COVID-19 pandemic. The market has not witnessed rushes of puja loving people for shopping puja dresses as earlier. People are much aware of danger COVID-19 pandemic.

Pathsala market which used to be fully crowded during the festivals a few years back wore a deserted look this year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.“The market has fallen down this year due to the pandemic. People don’t like to come to the market in the fear of getting infected with the virus as the COVID-19 cases has risen to 198982 in the state.

Following the lack of customers, the shops are wearing a deserted look, unlike the previous years.

Gautam Talukdar a businessman said “We are facing huge losses this year due to the pandemic. Earlier in the lockdown period, we were being forced to shut shops during Bohag Bihu festival. The situation remains unchanged as many people have preferred to stay indoors instead of shopping, “Our godown is full with clothes but less customer in the market”, he added.

“Just 7 days are left for the Durga Puja but the shopping is yet to be done for my family. The situation is different this year because of COVID-19 and we are scared to go to the markets. Physical distancing norms may be hampered if we go out for shopping and that is why we have decided to be more cautious this year.” said Krishanu Parashar a local resident.
Most of the city residents are of the same opinion.

Giridhar Choudhury, President of Bazar committee said, “Businessman are facing tough times as they have to pay rental fees and other taxes. Government should help clay artists and businessman.

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Bajali highly educated youth busy in farming, dreaming green revolution

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Educated youth

Amid this gloom of uncertainty and unrest wrought by the pandemic, some are worried about losing their jobs in the present, others dread an unseen future. This bunch of educated youth from Bajali however, have channelised their hard work into farming. Unperturbed by the churn in their lives, they find new meaning and joy in farming.They were farming winter season vegetables like Cabagge, Potato,Radish,Tomato,Spongegurd, Mustard seeds etc.

Educated youth

As the unemployment problem raises across the country these youths from various places of Bajali area like Pathsala, Patacharkuchi, Muguriya, Nityananda and Tihu are busy in farming under the initiative of Dhruba Jyoti Dutta, a resident of Patacharkuchi. The youths decided to give a try in farming as they could not get a job after completing graduation.

Dhruba Jyoti Dutta said, “We have created a WhatsApp group to connect youths from various places of Bajali area. After losing our jobs, instead of losing hope, many educated youths took up farming, which is a good sign. Till today we have covered 30 bighas of land.” “Instead of staying at home, if every youth takes up farming, our State will become like Punjab,” he added.

Tridip Kalita, who has done MA in Philosophy, said, “I lost my job due to the pandemic. I have learned something new after taking up farming and I am happy for that.”

Dimpol Nath, a computer engineer said, “During the lockdown I have lost my job in a private company and farming offers me an opportunity to live in a pollution-free environment.”

Kumud Kalita, a graduate, said, “I want to become a farmer because farming requires low capital investment. I can also serve the society by offering people healthy and nutritious farm products from my farm.”

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COVID-19: Uncertainty looms over traditional idol artisans

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The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have brought down uncertainty in everyone’s life.People from every walk of life have faced hardship and they are gradually trying to limp back to normalcy.One such victim of the COVID-19 induced lockdown is Mantu Paul, a famous clay artist and idol maker of Pathsala in lower Assam.

Known for his breathtaking idols of Gods and the Goddesses, Paul, however, is in tears this year.Speaking exclusively to Times of Northeast he said, “The Durga Puja is almost at the doorsteps and till date, I have not received a single order for an idol.”

“Earlier, people used throng from six months before with their orders and demands for idols of various shapes and sizes,” he added.

“A team of nine artists used to work day in and day out to meet the orders on time,” he further said.

“However, the pandemic has thrown life out of gear and we are out of work,” he bemoaned.

“Since the pandemic has hit everyone hard, we even did not find an alternate way of supporting us and our families,” he further said.

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Paul, so far, has received the order for just one Vishwakarma idol.

“Had the pandemic not struck, then the workshop would have been bustling with work and there would be various idols ready to be delivered,” he added.

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COVID-19: Impact of lockdown on Sarthebari small craft industry

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The sound of the clank of metals and the snapping of the heater has nearly vanished from Sarthebari, a town 80km from here in bring down Assam’s Barpeta area, which is home to the ringer metal industry.

As the country prepares for an all-inclusive lockdown to check the spread of novel coronavirus, the demise chime is by all accounts sounding for the specialists in Sarthebari, who are battling for their employment.

Sarthebari is one of two principle bunches — the other is at Hajo in Kamrup locale — of the metal and chime metal industry in Assam.

Around 40 percent of Sarthebari inhabitants are occupied with the ringer metal industry, with most specialists taking up crafted by their ancestors.

The principle items are kalah (pot), xorai (a plate mounted on a base), kahi (dish), bati (bowl), lota (pot with a long neck) and tal (cymbals).

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Expert Haren Das stated, “There are in excess of 350 workshops with 600 or more skilled workers in and around Sarthebari, where laborers make just a single piece of an item. In any case, during the lockdown, they are thinking that its difficult to make a decent living.”

“Despite the fact that a xorai normally weighs somewhere in the range of 2kg and 10kg, I had gotten a request for two 150kg and one 60kg xorai before the lockdown. I am as of now making them,” he included.

Hiren Deka, whose workshop is called Hiren Kaha Shilpa, stated: “The craftsmans work for 12 to 16 hours every day during top season yet post-lockdown just the individuals who have prior requests are working, while others have begun work in their agrarian fields. During top season they make anything between Rs 18,000 and Rs 30,000 a month relying upon the yield. The workers are paid Rs 150 to Rs 2,000 for each kg relying upon the plan.”

Another specialist, Jatin Deka, stated: “The industry was at that point tormented with heap issues like contending with manufacturing plant made reproductions, which clients neglect to separate with the first and which retailers obtain from outside for a higher edge, however the lockdown has brought foreboding shadows over their business.”

Expert Sailen Deka stated, “Metal and ringer metal items request both physical quality and masterful ability to be made. To continue the business, we encourage the Assam government to receive an exceptional monetary bundle.”

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In Assamese society, ringer metal, a composite of copper and tin (in the proportion of 4 to 1), holds an uncommon status and has utilitarian and tasteful: they are de rigueur in relationships and strict capacities, while eating from chime metal plates is considered to have medical advantages.

As per the Assam Cooperative Bell Metal Utensils Manufacturing Society Ltd, the yearly yield was 41,638,820kg in 2011-12.

Verifiably, the art goes back to the seventh century and set up accounts follow the ringer metal industry of Assam to the time of Kumar Bhaskaravarman, the last ruler of Varman tradition. Be that as it may, the industry thrived during the Ahom rule, exceptionally during the standard of Swargadeo Siba Singha.       

With inputs from Sahjid Khan reports

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Times of Northeast is an independent digital news platform which seeks to grab the attention of rational-minded people from Northeast India.

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