Covid, silver prices take sheen off Cuttack’s Durga Puja tableaux

Bhubaneswar: This year, the people of Silver City Cuttack are unlikely to see the iconic

silver tableaux

that form a mesmerising backdrop to the idols during Durga Puja. Not only is there a cloud of uncertainty over public celebrations, the pandemic and the high silver prices have hit the trend of puja committees unveiling new silver tableaux with fanfare ahead of Puja.

At least five puja committees of Cuttack were working on silver tableaux for Durga Puja this year but they have all set aside their plans due to the lockdown and the escalation in silver prices.

Currently, the city has more than 25 puja committees that boast of possessing silver filigree tableaux.

“We have finished 80% of the work on our tableau over the past two years, but we need more funds for the remaining bit. In this situation, we cannot ask people of our locality for donations. Also, artisans are afraid to step out of their homes because of the pandemic,” said Lingaraj Barik (40), secretary, Mohammadia Bazar puja committee, which was building a tableau with 140kg silver.

The Ramgarh puja committee, which is working on a 200kg silver tableau, is slightly better off.

“Although we will not be able to complete the work this year, we have already bought 90% of the silver required. Otherwise, our budget of Rs 1 crore would have escalated massively,” said Rabindra Narayan Bhanja (70), secretary of the puja committee, which started the work around two to three years ago.

For those committees that already have a tableau, the uncertainty over public celebrations means that the Puja, if held, will be a very small affair.

“We might do a symbolic puja. In that case, we will not display our silver tableau,” said Debasish Ray (42), president, Choudhury Bazar puja committee, which installed the city’s first silver tableau in 1956.

The backdrops are designed by expert craftspersons, who have spent years in the trade. “Usually I keep tradition in mind while recommending or altering the designs,” said Kedar Behera (67), who designed the 500kg silver backdrop of Haripur-Dolamundei in the city, besides that of many others.

Residents and businessmen voluntarily contribute money or silver for the tableaux that are synonymous with Durga Puja in Cuttack. With silver prices touching a record high of Rs 66,000 per kg from the Rs 40,000 per kg of four months ago, funds are difficult to come by.

“There was a steady flow of money for our tableau but that has dried up. We had to stop the work,” said Tapas Praharaj (47), secretary of Kafla Bazar puja committee.