Festive demand keeps Raghurajpur busy

Raghurajpur: Khetra Moharana does not know how many generations before him have been involved in the work of making the Lord Jagannath. Moharana, now 65, pauses for a few seconds to recollect when he first gave shape to an idol of the Lord. “Maybe when I was 14,” he says.
The town, famous for its art and craft work, is working overtime to complete various works, as Rath Yatra nears.While some are doing regular craft work, those involved in making idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are the most sought-after now.
“People want to paint the idols they worship at home during Rath Yatra. This is a tradition across many parts of Odisha. But during Nabakalebara, it is almost mandatory. In fact, many people are ordering new idols this year,” Akash Swain, a young artisan, explains. A set of four-inch idols comes for Rs 350-400, while the larger set of about eight inches comes for about Rs 1,200-1,300. It takes between two days and a week to make one set of idols, depending on their size.
While a large number of tourists visit Raghurajpur and buy these products directly from the artisans, those who do not make it to the village buy the products from the stalls in Puri. Besides, during Rath Yatra, demands are placed two to three months in advance.
“Our work is not easy. It needs immense concentration. Even a slight mistake while giving shape to an idol, or during painting can spoil the entire work. We are getting old and the workload does take its toll, but thanks to Lord Jagannath’s blessings, we are all fine,” 62-year-old Sabitri Behera says, her eyes fixed on an idol of Subhadra as she speaks.
“We had always kept Raghurajpur in our itinerary. We have bought pattachitra work for our friends back home. This is the best souvenir we could get from here,” Lakshmi Raghunathan, a tourist from Tamil Nadu, said.
Lord Jagannath is “asleep” for 45 days, but the entire heritage village starts work early in the morning and continues till late in the night. As Barnamali Mohapatra, 62, a national pattachitra award winner, says, “It is because of the Lord that we exist. It is because of Him that our work gets so much attention. Even when he is asleep his blessings are with us.”