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Shiny tableaux dot the city

CUTTACK: The city known worldwide for its intricate filigree work is now basking in glory with silver tableaux lining up for the ensuing Dussera next week. The tableaux made in white metal called ‘Chandi Medha’ in local parlance is the hallmark of Cuttack puja and at least 11 puja mandaps will be sporting silver tableaux this year, which will bestow a sparkling backdrop to the Goddess Durga during the six-day puja.

The concept of silver tableau was first introduced in the city way back in 1955 when the Choudhury Bazar Puja Committee decided to do something unique that would place them high among the other puja committees.

It all began with a Muslim trader donating about 250 kg of pure silver, estimated to cost Rs. 11,000, for the purpose.

Subsequently, the committee engaged some 30 filigree artisans who worked on the silver for nearly two years to give it a shape of a tableau to put it in the backdrop of the deity. The making cost of the tableau at that time was also the same as that of the cost of silver.

Later on several other puja pandals followed the trend and made efforts to give a shiny background to the goddess. But Choudhry bazaar dominated all till early 80’s.

Sheikh Bazaar followed by Alisa Bazaar joined the bandwagon in 80’s. Later other puja pandals like Chauliaganja, Chandni Chowk, Balubazar, Badambadi, Ranihat and Dolmundai joined them.

This year, Kazi Bazaar and College Square puja committees are also trying their best to be in the elite list.

Meanwhile, Choudhury Bazaar is once again making grandiose plans to stand apart in the elite class as it

for betrying to maintain its class apart went for golden crowns for its deities in the golden jubilee of its committee in 2002.

The committee made golden crown for Goddess Durga, and for other side deities of Laxmi and Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartikeya including that of demon Mahisasura with about 7.6 kg of gold at a cost of Rs 50 lakhs. This year, the puja committee has added another 3.5 kg of gold for its tableau.

Similarly, Sheikh Bazaar Puja Committee too has gone for adding some golden jewellery on their deities and has made golden crowns worth nearly Rs. 50 lakhs.

Meanwhile, Chauliaganj Mandap, which claims that their tableau made of 460 kg of pure silver and has added another 10 kg of silver to it this year.

“With the additional silver, we have spent around Rs. 60 lakh in our tableau and plans to go for golden tableau soon”, said the Chauliaganj Puja Committee secretary Niranjan Sahu.

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