Prisoners in northern India stage play enacting life of Lord Rama

Prisoners in northern India stage play enacting life of Lord Rama

OCTOBER 02, 2011           By Girish Kumar Dubey
       
Prisoners in Varanasi city of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state staged a play re-enacting the life of Hindu god, Lord Rama.

Speaking to mediapersons, Jaiveer Upadhyaya, who is a prisoner and performed the role of Lord Rama, highlighted the importance of Ramlila (re-enactment of the life of Lord Rama) in real life.

"Through the organisation of Ramlila (Story of Hindu god Rama) like programmes, the mental and physical stress of the prisoners gets reduced. We have gained a lot from it. And the main thing is that whatever we had read about Lord Rama, Lord Laxman and goddess Sita (wife of Lord Rama), we should carry those morals in our daily lives and we will try learning them," said Upadhyaya.

The prisoners of the Central Jail of the city wore colourful costumes and performed the roles of diverse characters from the epic Ramayana, the oldest epic, which is based on the life, times and moral values of Lord Rama. Rama is considered as 'Maryada Purushottam' (the best among the dignified).

Lord Rama is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the central character of age-old epic 'Ramayana'.

Intro

Prisoners in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state stage a play enacting the life of Hindu god, Lord Rama.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (OCTOBER 02, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. A BANNER READING 'RAMLILA MAHOTSAVA, 2011'(RAMLILA FESTIVAL, 2011)

2. ARTISTS PREPARING FOR THE PLAY AND PUTTING ON MAKE-UP

3. PRISONERS WEARING DIFFERENT COSTUMES

4. A PRISONER WEARING A TEN-HEADED CROWN, STANDING

5. TWO PRISONERS IN THE OUTFIT OF HINDU LORD RAMA AND LAXMAN, WALKING

6. MEN PLAYING TABLA (INDIAN PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT)

7. PRISONERS PERFORMING ON A STAGE

8. GATHERING OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE PERFORMANCE

9. PRISONERS PERFORMING

10. A PRISONER WEARING AN OUTFIT OF A SAINT

11. GATHERING OF PEOPLE

12. A PRISONER PERFORMING ON THE STAGE

13. AUDIENCE CLAPPING

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) JAIVEER UPADHYAYA, A PRISONER, SAYING:

"Through the organisation of Ramlila (Story of Hindu god Rama) like programmes, the mental and physical stress of the prisoners gets reduced. We have gained a lot from it. And the main thing is that whatever we had read about Lord Rama, Lord Laxman and goddess Sita (wife of Lord Rama), we should carry those morals in our daily lives and we will try learning them."

15. A PRISONER IN AN OUTFIT OF A DEMON, PERFORMING

16. AUDIENCE SITTING

17. A PRISONER CARRYING A BOW AND AN ARROW, STANDING ON THE STAGE

18. PRISONERS PERFORMING

19. CROWD CLAPPING FOR THE PERFORMERS

20. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) CAPTAIN S. K PANDEY, JAIL SUPERINTENDENT, CENTRAL JAIL, VARANASI, SAYING:

"I believe that the prisoners too have certain desires in their minds and (such programmes have been organised so that) they would also get the same kind of environment of festive seasons. If they had been independent, then they too would have definitely enjoyed these festivals in their villages. So, it's a kind of healthy entertainment for them and in addition to it, (these programmes) would give a chance to them to showcase their talents."

21. CAPTAIN S. K PANDEY, JAIL SUPERINTENDENT, CENTRAL JAIL, VARANASI, SITTING

22. RAMLILA (RE-ENACTMENT OF THE LIFE OF LORD RAMA) IN PROGRESS

Original Script Date

Oct 03 10:50 (1 day ago)

Modified Script Date

Oct 03 10:50 (1 day ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Prisoners in northern India stage play enacting life of Lord Rama.

Services

Subcon

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

OCTOBER 02, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:51

"I believe that the prisoners too have certain desires in their minds and (such programmes have been organised so that) they would also get the same kind of environment of festive seasons. If they had been independent, then they too would have definitely enjoyed these festivals in their villages. So, it's a kind of healthy entertainment for them and in addition to it, (these programmes) would give a chance to them to showcase their talents," said Captain S. K Pandey, Jail Superintendent.

The play is staged annually over ten successive nights during the auspicious period of Sharad Navratras (the nine-day festival which falls at the beginning of winter season). On the tenth day of the Hindu festival, Vijayaydashmi or Dussehra, the devotees commemorate the victory of Lord Rama over the Demon King, Ravana.

In recent times, Ramlila has received considerable worldwide attention, especially due to its diverse representation throughout the globe.

River Ganga continues to face pollution

Varanasi, May 4 : River Ganga remains highly polluted even after being declared the 'National River' by the Central Government.

The Ganga was declared the 'National River' to facilitate the clean up operations.

A Ganga River Basin Authority was also set up in order to check pollution in the river and its degradation.

But the problems for the River Ganga are far from over. It remains immensely polluted. Filled with chemical wastes, sewage and even the remains of human and animal corpses, it poses major health risks to around 400 million people living by its side and all others who benefit from it.

Ganga also suffers from another major problem called silting which results into chocking of its flow.

Some people also believe that constructing dams on the Ganga could be the cause of low water level in the river.

Acharya Jitendra, president, Ganga Mahasabha, a voluntary organisation working for saving the Ganga said, "Nearly 243 dams are slated to be constructed on the tributaries of the Ganga in Uttarakhand. This will obstruct the flow of water into the main river. So obviously, there will be sand dunes and the water level will be low. If the tributaries don't release water into the river, how will there be water in the Ganga."

The residents say that even after being declared the 'National River', no steps have been taken to improve the condition of the Ganga.

"The condition of the Ganga is deteriorating by the day. There is more sand in it. Though it is declared a 'National River', no efforts are being made to clean it. If water is resleased from the dam, then only the water level will increase in the river," said Rajesh Kumar Singh, a resident.

Efforts have always been made to clean up the Ganga since a long time but none have been proved successful.

The Rajiv Gandhi Government launched the Ganga Action Plan in 1984, but yielded little result. The river is said to be directly affecting the lives of around 400 million people who live by its side. By Girish Kumar Dubey

ANI

Read more: http://www.andhranews.net/India/2009/May/4-River-Ganga-continues-4048.asp#ixzz1ZWCqGb4u

Handloom weavers incur huge loss due to continuous rainfall in India’s northern state

Handloom weavers incur huge loss due to continuous rainfall in India's northern state

   Date on Sep 28 ,2011( 06:29 ) ANI                         By Girish Kumar Dubey

The recent rains in Varanasi town in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state, adversely affected the handloom weavers and their business, as their factories were inundated with water and forced them to stall their work.

Continuous rainfall and sultry weather conditions adversely affected the handloom industry in Varanasi.

The rainy season turned out to be a bane for the handloom weavers in the region as the weavers incurred loss worth millions of rupees.

"It has been raining since last night. There is no dry space in our house where we can sleep. We work on the spinning wheel but because of the rains we are facing a lot of problem. Our entire handloom machines are wet in the rain and we are left with nothing. There is no help coming from the government's side as well," said Mohammad Suhaib, a handloom weaver.

Apart from the daily wageworkers, the factory owners also incurred huge monetary losses.

The weavers have been forced to pull rickshaws or work as daily wageworkers to feed their families.

"We have incurred a loss of 15- 20,000 rupees. We get a daily wage of about 50 to 60 rupees. I fail t understand how to come out of this problem. No we will have to pull rickshaw or work as labourers to survive. We are left with no work. The entire town is submerged in water," said Mohammad Shamim, another handloom weaver.

Every year the weavers face the brunt of the monsoons. However, this year the loss incurred by them was high due to incessant rains.

Varanasi is famous for its hand woven 'Banarsi' sarees all over the world, especially in the American and European countries.ANI

Intro

The recent rains in Varanasi town in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state, adversely affects the business of the handloom weavers as their factories are inundated with water and has forced them to stall their work.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 27, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. HOUSES SUBMERGED IN WATER

2. WATER INSIDE THE HOUSE

3. THREAD HANGING FROM THE HANDLOOM WEAVING MACHINE SUBMERGED IN WATER

4. A MAN THROWING OUT WATER FROM HIS HOUSE

5. HANDLOOM WEAVING MACHINE SUBMERGED IN WATER

6. A HANDLOOM WEAVING MACHINE

7. WEAVERS STANDING IN A POOL OF WATER, LOOKING AT THE WEAVING MACHINE

8. A ROOM FILLED IN WATER

9. HANDLOOM WEAVING MACHINE SUBMERGED IN WATER

10. A SACK HANGING IN A ROOM

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) MOHAMMAD SUHAIB, A HANDLOOM WEAVER, SAYING:

"It has been raining since last night. There is no dry space in our house where we can sleep. We work on the spinning wheel but because of the rains we are facing a lot of problem. Our entire handloom machines are wet in the rain and we are left with nothing. There is no help coming from the government's side as well."

12. A SAREE HANGING ON A HANDLOOM WEAVING MACHINE

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) MOHAMMAD SHAMIM, A HANDLOOM WEAVER, SAYING:

"We have incurred a loss of 15- 20,000 rupees. We get a daily wage of about 50 to 60 rupees. I fail t understand how to come out of this problem. No we will have to pull rickshaw or work as labourers to survive. We are left with no work. The entire town is submerged in water."

14. MOTOR OF THE WEAVING MACHINE SUBMERGED IN WATER

Original Script Date

Sep 28 06:29 (3 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Sep 28 06:29 (3 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Handloom weavers incur huge loss due to continuous rainfall in India's northern state.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:38

Hindus take a holy dip in northern India hoping to be bestowed with children

Hindus take a holy dip in northern India hoping to be bestowed with children
                             By Girish Kumar Dubey
Hindu devotees took a dip in a water tank in order to be blessed with children and be cured of their diseases in Varanasi city of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday (September 03).

'Lolark Chhath' is celebrated two days after the festival of 'Ganesh Chaturthi', the birthday of the Hindu God Ganesha.

A local temple priest informed about the significance of the event.

"If one takes a holy dip here, then his wish of bearing a child is fulfilled. People offer fruits here and after they have offered, they do not take it back," said Anand Tiwari, a local priest.

According to Hindu legend, it is believed that the Sun God had meditated at this holy site of water tank for thousands of years. Thus, locals believe that the water of the tank has been purified and holds curative powers.

The villagers are also heard narrating the folklore of the pious water being capable of curing skin diseases, leprosy and other serious ailments.

However, the villagers are confident in the powers of the water in the holy tank. They believe that people shall be bestowed with offsprings, irrespective of caste and class.

Childless couples come from across the country to take a dip and perform traditional rituals at the water tank.

"My wish has been fulfilled. We had prayed for a child after taking a holy dip here and our wish was fulfilled," said Reshma, a devotee.

As per sacred rituals, the childless couples who take a dip in the water tank, leave behind their clothes and shoes at the bathing site, signifying the start of a new life.

Devotees who are blessed with children flock to the water tank and the temple to present religious offerings. They also get their children tonsured in an act of gratitude to the gods.

Intro

Hopeful to be blessed with children, hundreds of Hindu devotees take a holy dip in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state, on the occasion of Lolark Chhath.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 03, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. DEVOTEES STANDING

2. DEVOTEES TAKING A HOLY DIP

3. DEVOTEES TAKING DIPS IN A WATER TANK

4. DEVOTEES STANDING

5. A DEVOTEE WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE WATER TANK

6. DEVOTEES GATHERING AT THE WATER TANK

7. DEVOTEES WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE WATER TANK

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) ANAND TIWARI, A LOCAL PRIEST, SAYING:

"If one takes a holy dip here, then his wish of bearing a child is fulfilled. People offer fruits here and after they have offered, they do not take it back."

9. DEVOTEES OFFERING PRAYERS

10. A PRIEST STANDING

11. A DEVOTEE PLAYING DRUMS

12. A DEVOTEE SITTING, CARRYING A CHILD IN HER ARMS

13. A LOCAL PREPARING A DISH

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RESHMA, A DEVOTEE, SAYING:

"My wish has been fulfilled. We had prayed for a child after taking a holy dip here and our wish was fulfilled."

15. DEVOTEES WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE WATER TANK

Original Script Date

Sep 03 08:21 (24 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Sep 03 08:21 (24 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Hindus take a holy dip in northern India hoping to be bestowed with children.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

SEPTEMBER 03, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:02

Police detains a person in north India for his suspected role in the blast at Delhi High Court

Police detains a person in north India for his suspected role in the blast at Delhi High Court
                   By Girish Kumar Dubey

Based on sketches of two suspects that the Delhi Police released in the blast case at the Delhi High Court, alert police personnel in Varanasi, the temple city in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh detained a youth on Thursday (September 08).

Identified as Lakim Ram, the detained person resembles one of the persons in the sketches prepared by the Delhi Police.

A powerful bomb had rocked Indian capital that exploded at the entrance of the High Court on Wednesday (September 07) and the number of fatal casualties till now has touched the figure of 13.

Police had released sketches of two men with short beards who were suspects in the attack. The government also issued a reward for any information related to the blast.

According to the top brass of police in Varanasi, Lakim Ram hails from Ajmer city in the northwestern state of Rajasthan.

Briefing the mediapersons, Maan Singh Chuahan, Superintendent of Police (SP), said they have informed all the investigating and intelligence agencies probing in the matter for further inquiry.

"There is person whose appearance is similar to the sketch released by Delhi Police in the case of the blast (at Delhi High Court on Wednesday, September 07). So interrogation is going on. Though we have not ruled out his involvement but we have asked the federal investigating agencies that are probing the case for further interrogation of the detained person," said Maan Singh Chauhan, SP, Varanasi district.

As per media reports, so far the sleuths probing the case have detained five suspects for questioning and one among them are the owner of an Internet café and his close associates, from where the e-mail claiming responsibility for a bombing was transmitted.

The owner, his brother and an employee of the Global Cyber Cafe at Kishtwar in India's northern state of Jammu and Kashmir were taken in for questioning.

The attack in the heart of the national capital has renewed concerns about the authorities' abilities to prevent attacks, particularly in sensitive, high-risk areas across the country.

However the authorities are probing the authenticity of an email claiming to be from the militant group Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami (HUJI) and sent from the Internet cafe.

The militant group, affiliated with al Qaeda and largely based in Pakistan but also with bases in Bangladesh, has claimed responsibility for attacks in India, but not in recent years.

Media outlets said a separate e-mail purportedly from the Indian Mujahideen, a home-grown radical group said to have support from Pakistan-based militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, had also claimed responsibility for the briefcase bomb attack.

Earlier, in the month of May, a low-intensity blast outside the same High Court in Delhi triggered panic but injured no one.

Over the past few years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his government have come under intense criticism over their handling of militant attacks.

Though the government promised a radical overhaul of the security apparatus in India following the Mumbai attacks in 2008, critics maintain the reforms have been inadequate and in some cases abandoned.

Intro

Based on sketches of two suspects that the Delhi Police released in the blast case at the Delhi High Court, alert police personnel in the temple city of Varanasi in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh detain a youth named Lakim Ram.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 08, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. A POLICEMAN STANDING OUTSIDE THE POLICE STATION

2. SIGNBOARD READING 'SHIVPUR POLICE STATION, VARANASI'

3. LIKMA RAM, THE SUSPECT IN DELHI BLAST, SITTING

4. PENSIVE FACE OF LIKMA RAM

5. A LOCAL NEWSPAPER FEATURING THE SKETCHES OF SUSPECTS

6. LIKMA RAM SITTING

7. LIKMA RAM SITTING IN POLICE STATION

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) MAAN SINGH CHUAHAN, SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, VARANASI, SAYING:

"There is person whose appearance is similar to the sketch released by Delhi Police in the case of the blast (at Delhi High Court on Wednesday, September 07). So interrogation is going on. Though we have not ruled out his involvement but we have asked the federal investigating agencies that are probing the case for further interrogation of the detained person."

NEW DELHI, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 07, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

9. MEDIA STANDING NEAR A SIGNBOARD READING 'DELHI HIGH COURT'

10. CROWD GATHERED AT THE BLAST SITE

11. POLICE VEHICLES AND FIRE TENDERS AT THE BLAST SITE

12. A VAN OF BOMB DISPOSAL SQUAD AT THE BLAST SITE

13. POLICE PERSONNEL CARRYING DEBRIS IN A BLUE PLASTIC SHEET FROM THE BLAST SITE

Original Script Date

Sep 08 23:41 (19 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Sep 08 23:41 (19 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Police detains a person in north India for his suspected role in the blast at Delhi High Court.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH/ NEW DELHI, INDIA

Dates Shot

SEPTEMBER 08, +07, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

1:39

India’s main opposition leader criticizes Communal Violence Bill

India's main opposition leader criticizes Communal Violence Bill

                             By Girish Kumar Dubey
Senior leader of India's main opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Murali Manohar Joshi criticised the proposed 'Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2011' in Varanasi city, India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Monday (September 12).

While addressing mediapersons, Joshi said the proposed draft is likely to divide the country on communal lines and it was against the basic structure of the Indian constitution.

"This law (Communal Violence Bill) will divide the society and the country. It will lead to violence and disturbance all across the country. It is against the basic structure of the Indian constitution, which promotes secularism. In any secular constitution can you make any laws or discriminate based on religion. Here the government itself is discriminating through this law," said Joshi.

He asserted that an individual should not be judged on the basis of his religion and that the Indian constitution declares India as a secular country.

Joshi also stressed that with this bill, the federal government would have the authority to intervene into any state government's matter, which is facing a threat of violence on the basis of religion.

The senior BJP leader also questioned the validity of the bill as he said that it was the brainchild of Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi and didn't originate from any government institution.

The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Regulations) Bill 2011, seeks to protect various groups from communal riots.

It has proposed to define the victim groups as 'religious and linguistic minority, in any state in India, or Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes'.

Intro

Senior leader of India's main opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Murali Manohar Joshi criticizes the proposed 'Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2011' in Varanasi city, India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 12, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI, SENIOR LEADER OF INDIA'S MAIN OPPOSITION, BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY ARRIVING TO ADDRESS MEDIAPERSONS

2. JOSHI SPEAKING TO MEDIAPERSONS

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi), MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI, SENIOR LEADER OF INDIA'S MAIN OPPOSITION, BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY SAYING:

"This law (Communal Violence Bill) will divide the society and the country. It will lead to violence and disturbance all across the country. It is against the basic structure of the Indian constitution, which promotes secularism. In any secular constitution can you make any laws or discriminate based on religion. Here the government itself is discriminating through this law."

Original Script Date

Sep 12 19:05 (15 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Sep 12 19:05 (15 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

India's main opposition leader criticizes Communal Violence Bill.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

1:05

Artisans across India make eco friendly idols ahead of upcoming Hindu festival

Artisans across India make eco friendly idols ahead of upcoming Hindu festival

                               By Girish Kumar Dubey

Artisans made eco-friendly idols of Hindu deity goddess Durga across India ahead of the upcoming Hindu goddess festival, Durga puja.

This time artisans in Varanasi city of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh used natural colours and created eco-friendly idols.

The move comes in a bid to save the River Ganga from being polluted, as the idols are immersed in it as the festival comes to an end.

"We people make idols and this time we are making the idols keeping in mind the rise in pollution. The commissioner of Municipal Corporation has asked us that there should be no pollution in the river Ganges. Hence, this time we have used jute and terracotta, and none of these cause pollution. They are made of mud and they finally turn into mud," said Sushant Kumar, artisan.

Similar, efforts were witnessed in the Kolkata city of India's eastern West Bengal state where a leading radio channel launched a campaign earlier this month to create an awareness to celebrate this festival in an eco friendly manner.

"We are going to try our best to make sure that this Durga pooja is an environmentally friendly and eco friendly Durga puja," said Ayan Chatterjee, radio jockey.

Goddess Durga is worshipped all over India in different forms. The festival is called "Durga Puja" in the eastern state of West Bengal while in the rest of India it is known as "Navaratri".

During the festival, idols of the Goddess are installed in hundreds of "puja pandals" (make-shift tents) and people congregate to worship them.

The festival which symbolised the triumph of good over the evil is marked by prayers, processions and musical programmes.

Legend has it that "Asuras" or demons from the other world invaded heavens after a hundred years of war. The Hindu trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu created goddess Durga, the most powerful of all gods and goddesses to vanquish the demons.

Intro

Artisans make eco-friendly idols of Hindu deity, Goddess Durga across India ahead of the upcoming Hindu goddess festival.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 22, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. IDOLS OF HINDU DEITY, GODDESS DURGA

2. FACE OF THE IDOL OF HINDU DEITY GODDESS DURGA

3. ARTISAN PAINTING AN IDOL OF GODDESS DURGA

4. ARTISAN HOLDING A MUG OF COLOUR

5. ARTISAN PAINTING AN IDOL OF GODDESS DURGA

6. ARTISAN GIVING THE FINAL TOUCHES TO AN IDOL

7. ARTISAN WORKING

8. IDOL OF A TIGER

9. IDOL OF HINDU DEITY, GODDESS DURGA

10. IDOL OF HINDU DEITY GODESS DURGA AND LORD SHIVA

11. ANOTHER IDOL OF HINDU DEITY, GODDESS DURGA

12. ARTISAN WORKING

13. ARTISAN PAINTING

14. IDOL OF HINDU DEITY GODESS DURGA

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SUSHANT KUMAR, ARTISAN, SAYING:

"We people make idols and this time we are making the idols keeping in mind the rise in pollution. The commissioner of Municipal Corporation has asked us that there should be no pollution in the river Ganges. Hence, this time we have used jute and terracotta, and none of these cause pollution. They are made of mud and they finally turn into mud."

KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 22, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

16. VEHICLES MOVING ON A STREET

17.UNDERCONSTRUCTION MAKESHIFT TENT

18. LABOURERS BUILDING MAKESHIFT TENT

19. TWO WORKERS STANDING

20. WORKERS STANDING

21. A PHOTOGRAPH OF HINDU DEITY GODDESS DURGA

22. A CARPENTER CUTTING A WOODEN BOARD

23. CARPENTER SITTING

24. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AYAN CHATTERJEE, RADIO JOCKEY, SAYING:

"We are going to try our best to make sure that this Durga pooja is an environmentally friendly and eco friendly Durga puja."

25. UNDERCONSTRUCTION MAKESHIFT TENT

26. PEOPLE WALKING