No Celebrity Durgas this Year in Kolkata

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Kumartuli artisans to make traditional form of Durga, asura idols

 

Express News Service

Kolkata, August 26, 2007

 

The artisans of Kumartuli made a decision to stick to the

traditional style of making Durga idols on Sunday. The

decision was taken after receiving strict orders from the

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the Kolkata

Police, for not making deities resembling celebrities.

 

In the first week of July, the KMC had re-issued a notice

in this regard. It is to be mentioned that in 2006, similar

orders were passed by KMC, but the artisans had largely

ignored it.

 

An artisan and owner of Krishna Pal and Sons, Indrajit

Pal said: " Some of our customers want us to prepare the

idols based on celebrities but as per orders from the

KMC and Kolkata police, we will stick to the traditional

style of making deities of Goddess Durga. "

 

In 2006, the city pandals were full of Durgas resembling

BJP leader Vasundhara Raje and Congress leader Sonia

Gandhi. Former Indian cricket team coach Greg

Chappell was represented as the 'asura' (demon). This

prompted the civic body to take action and the notice

was circulated. Artisans Sanatan Rudra Pal and Pradip

Pal have shifted their shop from Banamali lane of

Kumartuli to Ultadanga. The original shop, Mohon

Bashi, owned by their father Rudra Pal still stands in

Kumartuli. The two has already received orders from

some big budget puja committees like Ekdalia, Singhi

Park, College Square and Santosh Mitra Square. Work

has begun in full swing in the artisans' colony.

Customers from not only the city but also far flung

districts like Midnapore and Nadia can be seen in

Kumartuli booking the idols. Although Durga Puja is

still a couple of months away [in mid-August],

about 70 per cent of the idols have already been

booked by committees, said artisan Ananda Pal.

 

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