One of the oldest and most interesting ritual is the Chokkhudaan : offering the eye of Goddess Durga. The final stroke of the paint makes the eyes of Durga. This ritual is supposed to done in complete darkness using candle/dhibri and in the presence of only one sculptor and no one else. Traditionally, last day of Pitra Paksh (Mahalaya/ Pitra-Visarjan) is the day of ‘Chakshu-Dan’ which literally mean ‘Giving Vision’.
Before painting on the eyes, the artisans fast for a day and prior to that eat only vegetarian food. They perform ‘Hobisi’. To eat food prepared in wood fire in earthen pots. In the morning they go to the river for a bath and without even partaking water they perform a small puja to ‘Agni’ to forgive them of any faults and draws the eyes of the goddess Durga followed by others.