Dhanbad: With Durga Puja less than a month away, idol makers in Dhanbad are racing against time as persistent rain slows preparations for the festival.Artisans, who have been working on clay idols for nearly two months, said high humidity and a lack of sunshine had delayed the drying process. The idols are expected to be ready for public viewing from Saptami on Oct 17, leaving the makers with a narrow window to complete drying, painting and final detailing.The prolonged rainfall has raised concerns among artisans and puja organisers over the timely delivery of idols to pandals across the district.“If the weather does not clear soon, we may have to use a coal-fired furnace to dry the idols,” said Dulal Pal, an idol maker from Luby Circular Road.Pal said the rain had sharply slowed down work and increased pressure on artisans already working against delivery deadlines. Any further delay, he added, could affect both the completion of the idols and their transportation to puja venues.Despite the uncertainty, idol makers remain hopeful that the weather will improve soon, allowing them to place the idols in the sun and complete the remaining work without compromising on quality.The depression-induced rain has also disrupted life in several parts of the region, adding to the anxiety surrounding preparations for one of the year’s major festivals.
