Durga idol to travel across the ocean for Navratri

A four-foot-tall fibre glass idol of goddess Durga, weighing about 20kg, will travel from Pune to Philadelphia for the forthcoming Navratra festival.

A city-based sculptor, Abhijit Dhondphale, who makes only customised idols, got an order from the Bharatiya Temple in Philadelphia, to make the idol.

The temple management is organising a special Navratra festival for all Indians staying in Philadelphia.

A member of the temple and Puneite, Mukund Kute, has already arrived in the city to take the idol. He has been residing in Philadelphia since 1994. Kute told DNA that although sculptors are available in Philadelphia, none of them follow the traditions while making idols.

“A sculptor should not consume alcohol while making the idols. Unfortunately, such traditions are not followed there,” he added.

The Bharatiya Temple authorities, who get puja items during Ganesh festival every year, came to know about Dhondphale and got in touch with him.

Dhondphale’s family is in this business of making customised idols since three generations. The cost of the idol including the jewellery is Rs2 lakh.