Less than 100 days to go, Kumartuli readies Durga idols for foreign shores
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Kolkata: The festive fervour of
Durga Puja
may still be a little over three months away, but the idol makers' enclave in Kumartuli is already abuzz with activity. The artisans are racing against time, giving finishing touches to several idols — not for local pujas, but to meet the international demand.
Several batches of idols have already been shipped to United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Australia, among other countries where the Bengali diaspora organises Durga Puja celebrations.
According to the Kumartuli Mritshilpi Sanskritik Samity, more than 200 idols have already been sent abroad this season, and dozens more are at various stages of completion. The first idol was dispatched as early as Jan this year, to Sydney.
"This year, I have already dispatched five large idols to various cities in the US and the UK," said Bikash Pal, an idol maker. "It takes time to pack the idols securely and get the necessary customs clearances.
The shipping itself can take weeks, so we begin much earlier," he added. Some idols are sent by air, too.
Mintu Pal, another artisan, has dispatched several idols to Canada, Germany, France, Poland, and Italy. "The price starts from Rs 1 lakh .
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This is excluding the expenses for packaging and travel," said Pal, who was busy giving finishing touches to an idol. Potters admit that the number of orders has increased over the past decade. "Earlier, we would only get a handful of overseas orders. Now, the international orders come months in advance," said Koushik Ghosh, who dispatched an idol to Sydney in Jan.
The increasing number of orders has not only changed the production timeline but also the economic dynamics of Kumartuli.
Artisans say that overseas clients are often willing to pay more as the idols have to be customised. The increased income has led to more stable employment for workers and assistants, who previously relied only on seasonal work.
However, the international orders also come with specific challenges. "We have to follow strict guidelines for height, weight, and materials due to shipping constraints," explained Bikash Pal, adding that some idols need to be assembled on-site.
Preparations for local pandals have also begun. Full-scale activity for Kolkata-based pujas is expected to pick up by first week of July.
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