Alipurduar, Oct 03: Ankit Debnath, a Class VII student of Dwipachar area of Alipurduar, has captured the attention of his neighbourhood by showcasing his talent by making and worshipping Durga idols entirely with his own hands. Even without any formal training, Ankit’s skill and dedication has made him a local sensation.
From a young age, Ankit was fond of playing with clay, which soon turned into a passion for idol making. Years ago, he started making Durga idols and organised a small puja outside his house. His talent was soon recognised and the entire neighbourhood joined in the celebrations. This started an annual tradition where Ankit, who is now skilled at making idols for Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja, leads the community’s celebrations with idols made by himself.
Ankit’s mother proudly says that ever since her son started making idols, her family has not needed to go to Kumartuli, a famous hub of idol makers. For Kojagori Lakshmi Puja, she even celebrated the festival at home using the idol made by her talented son.
Despite the financial constraints, Ankit’s father was a small vegetable vendor and the family was completely dependent on his income, his parents fully supported their son’s passion. After initially being concerned about the costs involved, they eventually provided him with the necessary equipment to pursue his craft, helping Ankit develop his unique skills.
Every evening after school Ankit devotes himself to making idols, with neighbours flocking to admire his work. They consider him a talented artist, and for the past three years Durga Puja has been celebrated in the neighbourhood using idols made by Ankit. This year, the tradition will continue, with the community eagerly awaiting another Puja with an idol sculpted by the young artisan.
