Although it is a Hindu festival, the Muslim residents of Sheikhpara of Kulai village in Howrah district of West Bengal make wigs to decorate the hair of gods and goddesses. They have been doing this for generations.

Most of the residents of this predominantly Muslim village are involved in making wigs.

During Durga Puja there is a lot of activity, besides the villagers supply hair for idols in various temples throughout the year. They also make leather.

One of them is Maleka Begum. Her routine is busy, from morning on one hand to manage the housework and on the other hand to work with her husband and son.

I have been married for 32 years in this house. Since then I have started making hair and chamar for Tagore (Idols of God and Goddess). I used to work with my father-in-law, mother-in-law, husband. Now the son, the son's wife also works with us,' said Maleka Begum.

Her husband Ibrahim Mallik is working on one side of the balcony. He said, 'Many work orders come in succession this season. A few days ago, Gopal and Radharani's hair was ordered for Janmashtami. Then the order of Puja (Durga Puja). This engagement will continue now.'

In a small room next door, his younger son Monirul Mallik is single-mindedly working on making chamar. Sometimes he joined the conversation.

He was saying how their work goes to Delhi, Mumbai, Rajasthan. Also about the reputation of their work. The elder son went to the market to deliver the Durga Puja orders to the shop.

Late Rustam Ali, a resident of the village, was a President Award winning artist. The late artist is one of those who developed the wig industry in Kulaye.

According to his son Sheikh Mehraj Ali, almost the whole year comes the money to make artificial hair for Hindu gods and goddesses.

'A kind of order comes in one season. A month before Durga Puja, the goddess's wig is made. In addition to West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh have hair of gods and goddesses. Before that we have orders from different parts of the country on Janmashtami. In Kalipuja, orders come from outside besides West Bengal,' he said.

Sheikh Mehraj Ali said that most of the residents of Sheikh Para of Kulai village make wigs.

There are around 400 houses in this predominantly Muslim area. At least 250 families of the village are directly involved in this work.

Wigs of gods and goddesses are made in several districts including Howrah and East Medinipur of West Bengal.

'In Kulai village, Muslim artists make wigs for Hindu gods and goddesses. This harmony has touched people's hearts. The way Muslim artists do this work with devotion is very admirable. This is what makes Kulai different from other places. Receiving the Rustom Ali President's Award has also given Kulai a distinct identity,' said Soumya Ganguly, a resident of Howrah.

'This is our profession for generations'

Once upon a time, the villagers used to make wigs mainly for processions and plays. But for more than two decades, many of them only make hair for idols of Hindu gods and goddesses. Their job is to perfect the hairstyles of the gods and goddesses.

'Baba used to make Tagore's hair. I learned work from him. He taught Gopal and Radharani how to style their hair perfectly. I have to make different sizes of idol hair. His style and dress are also different,' said Ibrahim Sheikh.

'I have been doing Tagore's hair for 50 years. My sons do the same. It is passed down from generation to generation. People do the same thing from house to house in this village.

Most of the residents of Sheikhpara in Kulai under Panchla police station of Howrah have been doing this for several generations.

Mezaffar Sheikh's family has been associated with this profession for three generations. He said, 'This is our family work. My father Hamid Sheikh, grandfather Khodabakt both used to make wigs. They were famous artists. Now I make However, for the last twenty-two-twenty-three years, I have only made Tagore's hair.'

"Earlier, along with Tagore's hair, wigs were also made for Yatrapala and plays. Now the journey is not like that. Since the lockdown, I have received fewer orders for drama wigs than before. So it all depends on making Tagore's hair.'

Mathura, Vrindavan, Haridwar, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Odisha are the most popular destinations for Radha and Krishna hairstyles, he said.

Rustam Ali's daughter Ramisha Begum said in a very proud tone, 'This profession has been passed down from generation to generation. Father was a named artist. Seeing him, many boys of the village chose this work as a profession. Many have started their own business by taking the hand of their father.

Ramisha Begum's brothers and their next generation are now carrying on the tradition. He said, 'After my father's death, now my brothers and their sons are doing this work. There is work throughout the year, but most work comes during Janmashtami and Puja (Durga Puja).'

Sheikh Zakir Ali was sitting outside the house.

According to him, orders for Durga Puja wigs come mainly from July-August. Most orders are processed and shipped before Mahalaya. If there is an order from outside West Bengal, we finish the work a little earlier.'

A message of harmony

This Muslim dominated village is a great example of communal harmony.

In the words of Mezaffar Sheikh, 'We act as gods. As my god is to me, so is the god of him for whom I work. The hair that will be placed on the head of God and Goddess, we do that work with respect. Clean up and sit down to work.'

'I have seen Hindus and Muslims together since the time of my father and grandfather. It is still happening...Muslims are making Durga Tagore's hair, making sarees with lace. And that is not from today, from the time of my parents.'

His clear explanation, 'We have no quarrel with religion. Politicians work on caste. We don't.'

Late artist Rustam Ali always gave message of harmony. He told me, there is no Hindu-Muslim problem here. He respects this profession and makes wigs. The artists who are now in Kulai, they also work with respect to Hindu gods and goddesses,' said Soumya Ganguly.

How does this work?

Usually the hair for Vigraha is made with jute or nylon thread. But in Kulai village wigs are mainly made of nylon thread. First they are washed and dried in the sun. Then it is arranged and braided. Then the final work of making the hair is done.

Women as well as men are involved in this work. Braiding is mainly done by women. This is the real work in wig making.

The raw materials are either bought by the artists themselves as they can afford, or the traders come home and provide them. Same goes for orders.

Earlier, wigs and chamars were sent by post. Now wholesalers take home or some of the artisans working with artists deliver it themselves.

Role of women

Mezaffar Sheikh explained that the girls of the house play the most important role in making wigs, especially hair for deities.

'Without girls this work is not possible. Combing that nylon hair, then braiding it perfectly is a task that girls can't do without. Spinning nylon thread for making leather is also very patient work,' he said.

After a little pause, he said that his wife also used to work. He lost his wife three months ago. His wife was also working in the room where he was saying these words.

'One morning three months ago, I took a shower and sat down to work. Radharani and Gopal were doing their hair. He suddenly collapsed while working. I took it to a nearby hospital, but it was over.'

He carefully packed his wife's last works, her glasses, in a plastic basket.

The pain of losing a relative has left an impression on his daily life. With a sigh, he said, the son works as a tailor. So her only hope is her third grade grandson.

When he returns from school, he sits next to his grandfather and watches the work. 'The boy did not come to this work. Now my only hope is this grandson. Let him sit next to me. Only if the grandson comes to this work, our family work will progress.'

What is the new generation saying?

The impact of the lockdown has also hit this industry. Mezaffar Sheikh said, 'There was no work for a long time during the lockdown. Where is our capital? I spent a lot of trouble. One more thing is that I don't get the price of this work in Bengal. Even outside the state, the price is a little better.'

Ibrahim Mallik said the same thing. He said, 'Tagore's hair and skin are of different sizes. Hair prices range from 50 to 250 taka depending on the size. And depending on the size and handle of chamar, I get the price from 35 taka to 250 taka.

'I won't say it doesn't hurt, but the stomach goes away. By God's mercy, if you understand a little, you can continue the family. Business has been hit hard by the lockdown. The situation is better than that now,' he said.

Some of the residents are again worried that the new generation will make this industry their profession?

Ramisha Begum's wish is that her grandson who studies in English should also choose this same profession. So that this art passed down from generation to generation does not stop.

In a house in this area, two generations of two artisans were working on making leather. One of them is 16-year-old Sheikh Azim. In his words, 'I gave up education for want. I have been making chamar for the last four years. I like to do this.'

Manirul Mallik, who is in his twenties, is also happy with his profession. He likes to watch Hindi serials on his mobile while working.

'I want to do the work that my father and grandfather have done. I want to deliver more work to other states so that everyone knows about Kulai,' he said.