Every year, artisans in Bengal create magnificent idols of Goddess Durga. But one traditional ingredient used in some idol-making practices raises a powerful question: why is soil from the entrance of a courtesan’s home considered sacred? The custom, often associated with Nishiddho Pallisoil, is surrounded by religious interpretations and cultural stories. Some explanations connect it with the belief that a person leaves their purity outside before entering such a home. Yet the tradition carries a deeper question for society: if this soil is worthy of being part of the Goddess’s idol, why should the women associated with it be denied respect?
