Kolkata goes all hearts for doll-like Saraswati idols

In Kumartuli this year, Saraswati looks… different. Softer cheeks, big glassy eyes, a rounded childlike face. Alongside the traditional idols being crafted in their usual numbers, this new doll-like aesthetic has quietly but firmly made its place on the workbenches. What began as a single experiment late last year has quickly become one of the most sought-after styles of the season, driven largely by social media references and viral images.The pivot can be traced back to artisan Tarun Pal, whose family workshop claims to have first attempted the “cute Saraswati” style last December. “The whole ‘cute Saraswati’ trend started with us,” says Tarun. “The first one we made was for Chorebagan, it went viral. Then a cute Durga for Asansol also went viral. After that, people wanted cute versions of Kali, Lokkhi, Jagaddhatri… one after another.” Artisan Suchandrima Pal says the shift gained momentum during Durga Puja. “This trend gained predominance since Durga Puja. This year many came asking specifically for ‘cute’ Saraswati idols.”According to idol-makers, customer behaviour has changed sharply. “Each year there is some trend or the other,” says artisan Gopal Pal. “This time people are giving us paintings, pictures, references from social media , and we are making the idols accordingly. The focus is entirely on the aesthetic.” From Pinterest boards to viral reels, customers now walk into workshops with saved screenshots and specific demands for faces, colours and proportions. “This trend first spread on social media,” adds another artist Pradip Ray. “Since the cute Durga went viral, people wanted more childlike idols. Now for Saraswati, it’s at its peak.”While demand is high, the logistical load has doubled. “Since the trend is new, prices are higher than usual,” says another artisan Sushanta Das. “One reason is that not all of us have the new cute face mould. We have to mould faces differently. Creating these moulds is a struggle.” Making a new mould can take weeks; many artisans hesitate to invest because they’re unsure if the trend will last beyond 2026. “Some of us aren’t creating moulds at all , we’re making each face separately,” Das adds. “It took us one month to make four cute idol faces.” Painters also spend more time achieving the doll-like finish, and workshops are juggling traditional orders with the surge in customised “cute” requests. Tarun says he personally delivered several pieces from a recent batch of 26 idols. “Prices vary now , some are ₹18,000, some ₹25,000, some go beyond ₹60,000. Demand is strong.”“In total, I’ve made around 30–32 idols in the cute style this year. Most of them are already sold , a few are still here only because people haven’t picked them up yet. The orders became so many that I eventually had to pass some on to other artisans.”- Tarun Pal , artisan “Since the trend is new, the prices are higher than those of regular idols of the same size. One reason is that not all of us have the new cute-face moulds , we have to shape the faces in an entirely new way. Creating these moulds itself has become a struggle.” - Sushanta Das, artisan