Dhanbad Gears Up for Grand Saraswati Puja: Mantu Pal's Idols Embody Devotion

• Basant Panchami, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, will be celebrated on February 2nd with great enthusiasm in Dhanbad.
• Sculptor Mantu Pal, active for 15 years near Phularibagh, Jharia, views idol making as a spiritual practice, not just a livelihood.
• He uses sacred clay from the Ganges (sourced from Kalighat, Kolkata) and local yellow/black clay from Jamadoba, Bhaura, and Borgarh.
• Mantu Pal and his team of six artisans start idol preparation two months in advance, working day and night to complete 200 idols.
• Idols are priced between 1,000 and 4,000 rupees, providing financial stability and employment; Mantu Pal is originally from West Bengal.

Why It Matters: Dhanbad celebrates Basant Panchami with fervor, highlighted by Mantu Pal's devoted craftsmanship of Saraswati idols.