Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: These Dhaki artists are busy giving joy to others. Durga Puja is the best puja of Bengalis. And during that Durga Puja, they have to stay far away from their families. Just to earn more money, they travel from one mandap to another in different parts of the country for a few days during the puja. Our representative visited one such Dhaki para and heard some of their lives. Today, we will hear some of the stories of these people of Pakhira Para. This Pakhira Para is located in Haridaspur village under Parmanandpur Gram Panchayat in Maina Block of Purba Medinipur. About 150 families in this para earn their livelihood by playing this musical instrument. Taking the hand of their ancestors, these Pakhira Para spend their family life by playing the dhak. But in keeping with the current society, many people now earn money by playing the Tasa Pati. They are called upon in various small local pujas throughout the year. But Durga Puja is the best puja of Bengalis. Everyone wants to increase their income a little during this time. They think that the money they earn by working in rural areas can be earned much more if they go abroad for a few days. So these dhak artists or Tasa Pati move to places like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai etc. on the eve of the puja. So many families of these birds earn their living by playing musical instruments. Two or three of them may get the allowance of the government project folk artist. And other families are still counting the days in the hope of getting their allowance from the government. They move to the country and abroad 4 to 5 days before the Durga Puja. These artists of the neighborhood have already repaired their musical instruments and are practicing them a little to go to the Durga Puja. Swapan Pakhira said that he has been playing the dhak for about 38 years, following the example of his ancestors. For about the past 15 years, he has not played it at home during Durga Puja but has gone abroad to play it in the hope of earning more money. He said that he will go to Bangalore this year. He also said that he cannot make his family happy during the puja. We go abroad to play the dhak in the hope of earning more money due to the urge of our stomachs. Surya Pakhira said that we have taken up this musical instrument as a livelihood following the example of our ancestors. We all belong to poor families. Therefore, we are requesting some grants from the government. We pray that everyone has a good time during the puja.