Several puja organisers acknowledged the craftsmanship of the artisans and the toil of workers by displaying their names and photographs in the pandals.

The idea was to recognise their months of hard work and give them their share of respect, an organiser said.

Pandal-hoppers could see the names and photographs of the workers as they left the pandals.

The lists included electricians, the workers who cut iron sheets, painters, artisans and members of the sound team.

“These workers formed the backbone of the pandal because they worked day and night, sometimes even braving the elements, to complete the structure in time. In the last leg, some of them worked overnight, too,” said Nirmalya Pratim Panda, convener, Behala Club Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee.

The acknowledgement also gives a sense of ownership to the workers, an organiser said.

At Tala Prattoy, one of the workers was seen accompanying his wife and children to the pandal.

“He showed his photograph displayed in the pandal to them and also clicked one with his family under that frame,” said Dhrubajyoti Basu of Tala Prattoy, one of the big-ticket pujas in north Calcutta.

“This is an unorganised sector and Durga Puja in Bengal gives space and a platform to a creative economy. The more they are acknowledged, the more it creates a sense of ownership among the workers and artisans.”

Tala Prattoy had in 2021 first recognised the contribution of the workers and the artisans. More pujas are following suit.

This year Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra recognised the effort put in by workers and weavers, who have weaved the jamdani fabric that found its place of glory in the pandal.

“We have recognised the contribution of the workers who installed the pandal and the weavers who gave shape to the artist’s idea. Around 70 families from Ghoranash village in Burdwan weaved the fabric for us,” said Sandip Banerjee, the convener of the puja.

Artist Susanta Shibani Pal, the theme maker behind three pujas this year — Tala Prattoy, Hatibagan Sarbojanin and Kendua Shanti Sangha — said it was his responsibility to acknowledge their
efforts.

“A puja artwork is a collaborative teamwork and these 400 people worked with me relentlessly at the three pandals to help me execute my idea. It was my responsibility to ensure that visitors to the pandals were aware of their contribution,” Pal said.