This Article is From Sep 30, 2014

Diamonds Worth Rs 10 crore for this Goddess Durga

Diamonds Worth Rs 10 crore for this Goddess Durga

The necklace, tiara, earrings and nose ring of the Goddess are made of diamond.

Kolkata: It is Durga Puja in Kolkata - time for new clothes, food, fun and a visit to pandals for a 'darshan' of the goddess. But of the thousands of pandals in the city, there's one that almost everyone's making a beeline for: The Sree Bhumi Sporting Club's pandal, close to the airport.

Why the stampede? Well, diamonds, they say, are a girl's best friend. Now, it seems, even Goddess Durga cannot escape the lure of their glitter. At this pandal, she is adorned with real diamonds and her devotees are dazzled. And not just Ma Durga, diamonds have been showered on her children as well. (Read: Indian Museum's Heritage and Modern 3D Idols to Mark Durga Puja)

The organiser of this Puja is a very devout Trinamool legislator, Sujit Bose. Last year, he had dressed the goddess in gold. This time, when a jeweller suggested diamonds, he just couldn't resist.

"The Mother's necklace is diamond, her tiara, her earrings and her nose ring. The valuation has been done by the suppliers. They say it is all about Rs 10 crore," Mr Bose said.

The security is tight - around a dozen private security guards and five armed policemen.

"I came here to see the diamonds. The face of the goddess has a very nice traditional look and with it, the diamonds are just too much. I wanted to see that," said Shreya, one of the visitors. (Read: Mamata Banerjee Begins Durga Puja With a Brushstroke)

Her friend Srimanti agreed. "Diamonds are a definitely girl's best friend. Goddess Durga is certainly not immune to it."

Four days from now, the idol will be immersed - minus the diamonds, of course. But, like diamonds, the goddess is forever.
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