Durga idols make a comeback in Kali avatar

Kolkata: The puja break is over and artisans at Kumartuli are also back at work, moulding Kali idols out of the bamboo, straw and clay framework of Durga idols that were immersed, retrieved and recycled back to the idol-makers’ enclave in north Kolkata.
The workshops in Kumartuli are lined with the Durga idol frames, from which idol-makers are busy scraping off the remnant mud, colours and other accessories before turning them into Kali idols ahead of Kali Puja on Oct 31. Using the recycled framework with some minor alterations saved both time and money, said an artisan, pointing out that Kali Puja being held within a fortnight of Durga Puja, they were usually not left with much time. “Durga and Kali pujas are held at a gap of two weeks. While idol-makers get several months to make idols before Durga Puja, they are pressed for time to make Kali idols afresh. Using the framework of Durga idols helps us save a lot of time as well as money,” said Kartik Pal, secretary, Kumartuli Mritshilpi Sanskritik Samity.
During immersion of Durga idols, the frames are picked up from various ghats in and around the city. Given the frames’ high demand, those who retrieve them from various water bodies, sell them to idol-makers. “The prices of frames have risen over the past couple of years. Earlier, we could get them for Rs 100-Rs 200 a piece but now, they cost more than Rs 500 as several artisans have started re-using them. But it is still viable as it saves us a lot of effort that goes into making the entire idol from scratch,” said Mala Pal, an idol-maker in Kumartuli. A Kali idol fetches an artisan anything between Rs 25,000 and Rs 75,000, depending on the height and the detailing.
Once the frames arrive, artisans start altering them to turn them into Kali idols with four hands, sometimes, according to the features specified by their clients. “Many organizers give us specifications regarding the heights and other attributes of idols. Sometimes, we have to make minor alterations to the frames,” said another idol-maker.