Gayaji: An idol artist, Vicky Bindu, is creating a Durga Puja installation using newspapers, pencil shavings, sharpeners, coloured pencils and erasers, avoiding the use of traditional clay and paint. The project is expected to use more than 50,000 pencils and cost around Rs 1 lakh.
The installation, which includes Goddess Durga and the accompanying deities, is being prepared using materials that would otherwise often be discarded. The artist aims to combine creative reuse with a message about environmental conservation.
How The Idol Is Being Made
According to Bindu, the process began with newspapers, which were bundled together to form the idol’s inner framework. Pencil shavings were then carefully pasted onto the outer surface to develop the shape and appearance of the Goddess.
Sharpeners, coloured pencils and erasers are being used to create details representing the idol’s clothing and ornaments. The same technique is being applied to the accompanying figures of Ganesha, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya, Mahishasura and the lion, Goddess Durga’s mount.
“No traditional clay or paint of any kind has been used to create this unique idol. By adopting an eco-friendly technique, the entire idol and its surrounding tableau have been crafted without using any clay or paint,” Bindu said.
Rs 1 Lakh Project Involves Multiple Artisans
Five lead artisans have been working on the installation for the past month and a half. Another eight to 10 people, including children, have been helping sharpen the pencils and prepare the shavings, according to Bindu.
Pencils worth approximately Rs 1 lakh have been purchased for the project. The team has been working day and night to complete the installation, with artisans currently focused on the finishing touches.
Main Idol 70-80% Complete
Around 70-80% of the main Durga idol had been completed at the time of the artist’s statement. Between 15,000 and 20,000 pencils had been used so far, with the total expected to exceed 50,000 by the time all the figures and the surrounding tableau are finished.
The installation is expected to be a major attraction during this year’s Durga Puja celebrations. Its use of discarded materials and pencil shavings offers an alternative approach to idol-making while drawing attention to the potential for reusing everyday waste.
