Saraswati Puja orders restore festive buzz at Kumartuli

With just two weeks left for the first big festival of the year, the festive buzz has returned at Kolkata’s idol-making para. Most artisans have recovered from COVID and are now back at work to bring Saraswati idols to life. Though schools and educational institutions – which gave the maximum orders for Saraswati Puja before COVID – have not placed orders yet, the idol-makers are happy that the overall demand is almost 40% higher compared to the last two years and budgets have gone up too.
Demand from parar clubs and households
Babu Paul, idol-maker and secretary of Kumartuli Mritsilpa Sanskrity Samity, said preparations for Saraswati Puja are in full swing. “Since December, so many artisans were down with COVID that work had come to a standstill here. But now they have recovered and resumed work. This year the demand for idols is quite satisfactory, compared to the past two years. The sale is undoubtedly up by 30-40%. But we are yet to get orders from schools and colleges. Thankfully, parar clubs and households are placing a good amount of orders,” he added.
Bigger idols are back
Echoing Babu, Sanatan Paul, another Kumartuli artisan, added, “Yes, business is looking up, but we are waiting for educational institutions to place orders as our biggest chunk of revenues comes from there. The best part is that parar clubs are ordering bigger idols this time. Budget constraints and other restrictions led them to order for just five- to six-feet-tall idols in the last two years, but this year we have got orders for up to nine-feet idols.”
However, when it comes to Saraswati Puja, people don't like to experiment and stick to traditional designs. “People generally try new themes and concepts while ordering Durga idols. For Saraswati Puja, they always prefer traditional idols,” said Babu.
Budgets for idols go up too
Kumartuli artisans were hoping to increase the price range of idols in Durga Puja 2021, but most organisers were reluctant to pay higher prices back then. However, this year the prices of idols have gone up by 10%. “Unlike Durga Puja, customers are now fine with the revised charges. Budgets have gone up, especially for those organising puja at their homes,” said Sujit Paul, an artisan from Kumartuli.
Shola artisans unhappy as decoration takes a backseat
Though idol-makers are rejoicing the uptick in demand, artisans involved in the traditional sola crafts are not happy. “People are spending on idols, but they are not shelling out on the decoration of these idols. So, our business is still dull. It’s the educational institutions that make a lot of effort to make sure their idols are well-decorated. We hope they start ordering soon,” rued Babu Dutta, who has a shop at Kumartuli that sells decorative items made of sola and thermocol.
Mahadeb Paul, an artisan from Kumartuli, was worried as most of his team members had tested positive for COVID, bringing work to a halt. “Thank God they have recovered and are working day and night to complete the orders, which started pouring in the day the government allowed melas and fairs. Though we can’t reach the 2019 figures as educational institutions are not hosting pujas in a big way, parar pujas are happening on a larger scale. Only two-three educational institutions have placed orders so far. We hope that number goes up,” he said.