With just a few months left for Durga Puja, the artisans at Kolkata’s renowned potters’ hub, Kumartuli, are diligently giving the final touches to the Maa Durga idols, preparing them for international dispatch.
Speaking to ANI, artisan Mintu Pal, who has been involved in the idol-making business for over 35 years, said, “We have received more orders for Durga idols this year compared to last year. This year, we have received orders for 21 idols, up from 14 last year, with most orders coming from the USA, including New Jersey, Texas, and Florida. Durga Puja is being celebrated more widely in these locations this year.”
He added that many idols will also be exported to Canada, Germany, France, Britain, Singapore, and New Zealand. “Last year, idols were sent to Sharjah; this year, they will be sent to Dubai. With UNESCO approval, Durga Puja is now celebrated worldwide,” he said.
According to Pal, the cost of making a Maa Durga idol is equivalent to the cost of exporting it. “The cost of a clay statue of this size is 40 to 50 thousand rupees. A fiberglass statue is more expensive, ranging from Rs 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh, and the cost of exporting it is an additional 1 to 1.5 lakh rupees. Overall, the budget for sending a statue abroad is 3 to 4 lakh rupees per statue. We have also sent a larger statue to Spain, which was the biggest ever sent. It was 7 feet tall, including the background, and 10 feet in total. A big statue has also been sent to Texas.”
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Pal continued, “All these are artistic works, and the cost of materials is high. If we spend Rs 100 on an idol, we end up spending Rs 200 due to the additional steps. The idol first needs to be made in clay and then in fiberglass, which drives up the cost. Most idols are shipped abroad. Orders are received between December and February, and we deliver all the idols from May to July because agents take at least 3 months or about 50 days to deliver the shipment.”
Regarding the time required to make the idols, he noted, “The time taken to make an idol varies. In an emergency, it takes 15 to 20 days to make a fiberglass idol. If made properly, it takes a month. I make 50 to 55 idols each year. I don’t have time to make more, and space is also a constraint.”
Durga Puja, celebrated during Shukla Paksha of the month Ashwin in the Hindu calendar, is a major annual festival in West Bengal and among the Bengali diaspora across India. The festival’s significance extends beyond religion, celebrating compassion, brotherhood, humanity, art, and culture. The city of Kolkata transforms into a dazzling spectacle with colorful lights and decorations.
(WITH INPUTS FROM ANI)
