FESTIVESPIRIT/GOD’SARTISTS
Making
goddess of a
The first coat of clay — with a high percentage of water
— is applied to a straw figurine of the goddess. This fills
the crevices in the straw structure
Sadhon Paul, above, an idol maker from Kolkata, works in Navi Mumbai. Making the head of the idols is a high-skilled job, generally done by the highest graded artisans, usually from the Pal/Paul community. They make the head with fine clay — called athel maati — creating each feature with great care and skill
