Muslim artisans weave Durga’s hair, crafting a unique story of harmony in West Bengal
Muslim artisans in West Bengal's Howrah district continue the tradition of crafting wigs for Durga idols, fostering communal harmony. However, the business faces economic strain due to rising material costs and geopolitical tensions affecting trade with Bangladesh.
Why it matters
The story illustrates the intersection of traditional craftsmanship, communal harmony, and the economic impact of regional political instability.
Maa Durga’s thick black, wavy hair always catches the eyes of spectators across pandals in West Bengal during the puja festival every year. However, not many are aware that these tresses are woven by Muslim artisans from Howrah’s Parbatipur village in the district’s Amta locality.
Pabataipur is 50 kilometres from Kolkata and is connected by the Baragachhia railway station. Sheikh Nawab (37) runs the largest wig business for the deity’s idols in the village. While he doesn’t remember which of his ancestors started this craft, he recalls learning it from his grandfather. “The crafting of wigs are done in two phases. We source the jute and dye it and then we hire several artisans to stitch them. Stitching takes the longest. We train the workers ourselves,” Mr. Nawab said.
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