Bengali artisans pray to Lord Vishwakarma
HYDERABAD, SEPT. 17
Vishwakarma is hailed as the chief architect of the world and devshilpi in the Vedas. Friday was Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti, mos-tly celebrated by Bengalis.
Craftsmen and those in crafts as a vocation installed the idol of Vishwakarma, decorated it with flowers and leaves and made offerings of sweets and fruits. Tools and other implements were kept for puja alongside the idols for three days.
All those offering the puja opt for a vegetarian diet and kichidi is the special dish for the occasion. After three days of the celebrations, the idols are immersed in the Hussainsagar.
Deva Roy Chunchur, a craftsman from Bengal, said, “There is a large community of Bengalis here. These three days were a gala time for us. We go to our workplace but do not do any work. We offer puja, sit, talk, and sing songs.”
Joydev Pandit, living here for 21 years, said, “This city and its people are warm. This is such a wonderful place for guest workers.”
Someet Rana told this correspondent, “This time, the festival is low key because most of our craftsmen and their families who left the city during the lockdown have not returned. Very few idols were installed this year.”
We have been in Hyderabad for three decades. My late husband was a priest. The festival used to be hectic for us.
— Gouri Chakraborty,
Railway employee
We have worship from the morning. Our family fasts for three days. There are pujas in the morning and evening. Family gettogethers and picnics are held.
— PRIYANKA
It has been a month since I came here after marriage. I never expected the festival would be celebrated like this. The people are very hospitable.
— SURANJAN MAITY Vishwakarma Puja is when we get to meet each other. We women will be busy cooking and chatting while the men will have their own celebrations.
— P. SHOBITA Vishwakarma
Jayanti is celebrated in a grand way. We arrange tools in front of the idol, pray and seek success. We earn because of our skills.
— CHAYA We wait all year for Vishwakarma Puja. We are happy that this city has given us so much work and helped us have a happy life.
— SUKHDEV