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Exhausted, originally uploaded by Samir D.

"Dhak", a special variety of drum is an integral part of the Durga Puja. People who play these dhaks are called "dhakis". Ninety Nine percent of the people who plays these dhaks are from outside Calcutta. Round the year, most of them earn their livelihood by working as labourers in paddy fields. However, as 'Sasthi' comes by, the 'Dhaki's, as they are called in Bengali, starts gathering in places adjacent to the different railway stations in and around Calcutta. They are picked from there by the Puja organisers and are contracted for the four days of Puja.

Alone, originally uploaded by Samir D.

A dkahi waiting his turn to be picked up by puja organizers for Durga puja..