Dhubri artisan turns 7,000 discarded pens into Durga idol

An artisan from Assam’s Dhubri has created a unique Durga idol using approximately 7,000 expired ballpoint and marker pens, combining artistic creativity with a message of environmental sustainability.

Pradip Kumar Ghosh, a resident of Panchmore in Ward No. 2 of Dhubri, spent four months crafting the idol, which will be displayed at the Durga Puja mandap organised by Usha Sangha in Bishnu Palli, covering parts of Wards 11 and 12.

Ghosh has been pursuing innovative art since 1992, using discarded and unconventional materials to create Durga idols, sculptures of freedom fighters and other prominent personalities.

Over the years, he has experimented with a range of waste materials, including sugarcane residue, discarded bicycle tubes, plastic bottles and coconut fibre, earning appreciation for his efforts to combine artistic expression with environmental awareness.

The artisan believes that discarded materials can be transformed into valuable creations rather than ending up as waste. Through his work, he seeks to encourage self-help groups and ordinary citizens to explore upcycling and turn unused materials into commercially viable products.

His latest creation offers a distinctive take on traditional Durga Puja artistry, highlighting how everyday objects destined for disposal can be repurposed into elaborate works of art.

As Dhubri prepares for the autumn festivities, Ghosh extended his greetings to the people of Assam and the country, praying to Goddess Durga for peace, protection and the well-being of the nation.