Tradition with a Passport: Kumartuli’s Durga Idols Embrace Global Stage

With less than 100 days remaining until Durga Puja, Kolkata's famous craftsman hub of Kumartuli is already brimming with activity—though not for city pandals, but for overseas orders. Over 200 Durga idols have already been dispatched to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and Italy, while dozens more are lined up.

 

Artists like Pal Bikash and Pal Mintu toil day and night to fulfill the global demand. "We ship things as early as January," said Pal, who has already dispatched idols to Sydney and other U.S. cities. The process involves custom packaging, strict shipping regulations, and even on-site assembly abroad due to size limitations.

 

The price of an idol is ₹1 lakh, deducting freight and packaging. Foreign buyers pay a premium for customized designs, and this has immensely contributed to the local economy and provided full-time employment to artisans who had earlier worked on a seasonal basis.

 

While foreign orders account for most orders in the first few months, arrangements for Kolkata pujas are expected to pick up from early July, the start of local festive hype.

 

Sources: Times of India, Northeast Live, ETV Bharat