3 weeks ago

Kumartuli's focus shifts back to traditional shabeki Durga idols

Kumartuli's focus shifts back to traditional shabeki Durga idols
Tradition trumps themes at Kumartuli as focus shifts to ‘shabeki’ Durga idols this year · telegraphindia.com

Every year, people in Kolkata celebrate Durga Puja, a big festival with beautiful statues of the goddess Durga.

Many of these statues are made by artists in a place called Kumartuli.

This year, most people want traditional-looking statues instead of new and creative ones.

Some artists say the new government quietly asked them not to try new styles.

Making statues got harder this year because special clay became very hard to find.

When the clay finally arrived, it cost almost twice as much as before.

Some workers went back to their villages or moved away to find other jobs.

Because of that, there are fewer workers to make the statues.

There was also a problem with the bamboo used to build the statue frames, but that got fixed.

In the end, some people think fewer statues will be made, while others think the number will stay about the same.

Key facts

Event
Durga Puja
Location
Kumartuli, Kolkata
Trend
Shift from themed to shabeki (traditional) Durga idols
Clay crisis duration
Nearly one-and-a-half months
Etel clay price
Approximately doubled
Labour impact
Shortage of workers; some returned to villages or left for other states
Idol height guidance
At or below 11 feet to facilitate smooth immersion through railway gates
Bamboo soaking
Resumed in the Ganga after discussions with the River Police

Quotes

Anjan Ukil

Member of the Durgotsab Forum in Kolkata

“"Since the new government took over, there have been unofficial instructions to avoid experimentation with idols of Goddess Durga. As a result, organisers are leaning more towards Maa's shabeki form."”
telegraphindia.com
“"Just like conventional Durga idols, themed idols are also a form of art. There will still be themed idols this year, though perhaps fewer than before."”
telegraphindia.com

Sources

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