National
Durga idol in gold sari attracts thousands of devotees in Kolkata
Kolkata, Sep 29 (IANS) Thousands of devotees and revellers are making a beeline for a marquee in north Kolkata to pay obeisance to a Durga idol decked out in a sari made by using 22-carat gold worth crores of rupees, an organiser said on Friday.
Those visiting the Santosh Mitra Square marquee are simply left awestruck while gazing at the Durga idol, which the organisers say highlights Bengal’s rich heritage and the artisans’ creativity.
“The Goddess’ idol adorned with a sari made of pure gold is something that had never been done before. Earlier, there have been idols decorated with gold jewellery and zari work,” puja committee President Pradip Ghosh told IANS.
“As much as 30 kg gold worth over Rs 10 crore was used in crafting the beautiful sari with an intricate embroidery and studded with gemstones,” he said.
No clothing material was used for the dress, which has floral motifs, images of butterflies and birds, apart from an embossed image of a peacock.
Senco Gold and Diamond’s Managing Director Sankar Sen, who sponsored the gold and the craft work that went into the making of the sari, told IANS: “Initially, we started work with 30 kg gold. But the amount of precious metal used came down during cutting and polishing. The finished sari weighs around nine kg and is worth Rs 3 crore.”
Around 25-30 skilled artisans worked on the costume for over 90 days, Sen said.
“Designer Agni Mitra Paul, artisans, and idol-maker Mintu Pal worked round the clock to execute this project,” Ghosh said.
The endeavour was taken up not randomly but on purpose for the club’s 82nd celebrations to showcase the talent of Bengali artisans, said Ghosh.
“The idea wasn’t chosen randomly but was well thought out. People around the world have great interest in intricate and delicate designs used by Bengal jewellers. More than 1.3 lakh artisans, directly or indirectly, are associated with this industry in the state. We hope this initiative will bring them dividends,” said Ghosh, who is involved with the jewellery industry for decades.
The hard work has paid off as devotees and other revellers highly praised the idol, which is the cynosure of all eyes, set in the backdrop of the iconic London Bridge, Big Ben, London Eye and Buckingham Palace, he said.
The organisers have planned in advance about the immersion of the idol.
“The gold sari was set in such a way that it can be taken off before the immersion of the idol,” Ghosh added.
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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