By IANS,
Kolkata : Recession has hit hard the export of Durga Puja idols. Potters are getting fewer orders from Bengalis abroad for Durga images that normally do booming business this time of the year.
“Last year Kumartuli sent 46 idols. This year it has dropped to 34,” idol maker Babu Pal, secretary of the Kumartuli Mritshilpa Sanskriti Samity, an association of idol makers, told IANS.
Added Prodyut Paul: “I usually send six to seven idols. But for the last two years our business is suffering. This year I have sent only four idols.”
Prodyut Paul’s family has been in idol-making business for over 50 years. His grandfather Gorachand Paul began the tradition.
“I make 24-25 idols ever year, out of which I export one or two,” Basudeb Rudra Pal told IANS.
The idols are exported to Britain, the US, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, South Africa and Indonesia.
Most bookings are done online. Many artists have their own websites. The prices for Durga idols along with accompanying images range between Rs.5,000 and Rs.150,000.
Kumortuli (also spelt Kumartuli) is a traditional potters’ quarter in northern Kolkata. The artisans supply clay idols of Hindu gods and goddesses to community pujas in Kolkata and its neighbourhood and export them too.
There are around 100 artisans working in the dingy earthen houses in Banamali Sarkar Lane.
Artisans start exporting idols to foreign countries two-three months before the Durga Puja because it takes at least takes 45 days to reach the destination by ship.
Till four years back the artisans used to send earthern idols abroad but now they send fibre glass idols, which is much lighter, easy to transport and long lasting.
“This has also to some extent affected our business as these idols are long lasting our non-resident Bengali clients will not require to change idols fast,” another artisan said.