Dhak Minus Feather Frills

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/kolkata-/Dhak-Minus-Feather-Frills/\

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Dhak Minus Feather Frills

Prithvijit Mitra, TNN 14 September 2009, 04:21am IST

The flowing white plumes attached to a dhak have come to symbolize Durga puja.

But the decoration is obtained through an act of cruelty that hasn't

stopped despite repeated drives undertaken by the forest department. Every year,

thousands of egrets and open-bill storks are slaughtered for their pristine

white feathers that deck up the instrument. Even as complaints pour in, the

forest department has decided to step up vigil at the city's pandals this puja.

 

An estimated 4,000 storks and egrets are killed across Midnapore, Murshidabad

and Malda in the run-up to the pujas every year. At least four birds have to be

killed to obtain a bunch of 30-40 feathers needed to decorate a dhak. A few

hundred are believed to have been slaughtered this year.

 

Animal rights activists pointed out that the number of egrets and storks has

dwindled due to the age-old practice. " It has been curbed to an extent but birds

are still being killed in the districts. Unless the forest department acts

tough, this cruelty will continue, " said green activist Mukuta Mukhopadhyay.

 

The forest department has asked police to step up vigil at pandals. Several

pandals have been identified for surprise inspection during the puja, including

a few in Salt Lake.

 

" We received complaints last year though the number has reduced over the last

five years. We have been campaigning against the practice but it is yet be

eradicated. Most of them (dhakis) are now using artificial feathers. Some Salt

Lake pandals were under the scanner last year and they have banned it now. We

raided a dhak competition in the satellite town last year but thankfully none of

the instruments was decorated with feathers, " said V K Yadav, chief conservator

of forests, western circle.

 

Forest officials will also be on the lookout for Nilkantha birds that are

trapped and released during the puja. " This is not permitted either and we will

be vigilant, " Yadav said.

 

Activists, however, argued that not enough was being done to catch the culprits.

" Even last year, several hundred dhakis used feathers on their instruments. They

have been used all over Kolkata and not just Salt Lake. A stronger campaign is

needed to raise awareness on this. Otherwise, this cruelty won't stop, " said

Debashish Chakraborty of People for Animals.

 

Forest officials, on the other hand, said it was difficult to trace the culprits

unless puja organizers took the initiative. " Environment is a popular theme for

pujas now. Animal rights awareness has gone up as well. we expect organizers not

to employ dhakis who have feathers on their drums. Copies of a leaflet will be

distributed in some pandals this year and police will be on guard, " Yadav said.

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N.B.I'm no longer with People for Animals

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Thank you for your compassion !

With best regards,

Debasis Chakrabarti

Compassionate Crusaders Trust

http://www.animalcrusaders.org