US-Iran war hits Kumartuli: Artisans call for early orders to beat shipping delays

As global shipping routes strain under the ongoing Middle East crisis, anxiety has gripped Kumartuli’s idol makers. These artisans are now contending with the uncertainty created by the logistical issues created by the war, along with increased prices of raw materials. While a few have decided not to take orders from outside India, others are urging overseas Pujo committees to confirm their orders well in advance to ensure that the idols reach on time.
The logistics of shipping Durga idols overseas
Transporting a Durga idol from Kumartuli to say, London involves both high logistics complexity and rising costs, especially given the ongoing geo-political crisis in the Middle East. Sea transit takes 4–10 weeks, while air cuts delivery to about 7–14 days but at a steep premium. The war is disrupting key maritime routes, pushing many container ships from Asia–Europe cargo away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal toward the longer Cape of Good Hope route, adding 10–14 extra days and raising fuel, insurance, and port‑handling costs. War‑risk premiums and rerouting are also squeezing air‑freight capacity through Gulf hubs, driving up air‑freight rates and occasionally delaying schedules.

Kumartuli urges for early orders

With global shipping routes under strain due to the ongoing Middle East crisis, Kumartuli’s idol makers are raising an urgent appeal to probashi Durga Puja committees to lock in their orders well ahead of time. “The ripple effects of rerouted cargo, congested ports, and unpredictable transit schedules are already being felt, making it increasingly difficult to guarantee on-time deliveries abroad,” says Kaushik Ghosh, an artisan from Kumartuli.
Many craftsmen, wary of reputational damage, are choosing caution over business. The fear of failing to deliver on time has made several workshops reluctant to accept orders altogether. “I’ve turned down orders from Australia, and won’t accept orders from abroad till elections are over and the war uncertainities stabilize. I’m taking orders from South India, but they will also have to come and take delivery of the idol,” said Indrajit Paul, another idol maker.
Fewer orders, rising costs tighten the squeeze
According to the artisans, the festive season has begun on an unusually subdued note, with
orders already fewer than in previous years. The dip, they explained, is not driven by a single factor, but a combination of tightening budgets and growing uncertainty among buyers, especially overseas committees. “The cost of making idols has risen sharply.Raw materials like clay, straw, bamboo, and paints have become more expensive, while labour and transportation costs have also climbed. This means we’ve had to increase idol prices, leaving many organisers hesitant to commit on their orders,” says China Pal, an artisan. For craftsmen who rely heavily on this period for their annual income, the mismatch between
rising expenses and shrinking demand is creating a precarious situation, forcing them to rethink production volumes. “Every year we expect this season to bring in steady work, but this time the enquiries themselves are fewer. People are holding back because costs have gone up, and everything is uncertain,” added Prasanta Paul, another idol maker.
Given the current situation, we have decided to use last year’s idol. At the same time, we are exploring the option of procuring an updated chalchitra. The design and concept for this are currently being worked on– Sourav Niyogi from a Pujo committee in London

With raw material costs rising across the board, we have had no choice but to increase our prices, idols will be at least 25 to 30 per cent more expensive this year – China Pal, artisan

• Fibreglass idols (6–8 ft) roughly cost - ₹1.5–2.5 lakh to make for export
• Sea‑freight from Kolkata to London adds about ₹1-2 lakh and 4–12 weeks in transit
• Air‑freight is faster (7–14 days) but can push total cost to ₹7 lakh or moreA few orders from overseas have been cancelled, as even a slight delay can mean idols arriving too late for the festival– Kaushik Ghosh, an idol maker from Kumartuli

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