Kolkata: Idol sizes take a cut to keep pujas simple amid pandemic

KOLKATA: In 2015, Deshapriya Park brought Kolkata to a standstill during the Pujas as lakhs thronged to see the 88-feet Durga idol, said to be the tallest Durga in the world. This year, the organizers will be worshipping a 10-feet idol. The pandemic has prompted Durga Puja organizers go for smaller idols in their effort to scale down the celebrations.
For 53-year-old Mintu Pal, the sculptor who had made the tallest idol for Deshapriya Park five years back, said he had made the shortest idol — 8-feet in height — of his career this year.Pal’s Kumatrtuli studios have received orders for only four big idols, the remaining are all for smaller idols. “Five years back, I had sculpted the world’s tallest idol. This year, I have sculpted the smallest idol in my career,” he said.
One of Pal’s taller idols will be at the Santosh Mitra Square, which, for the first time in its 85-year history, will not allow visitors inside the pandal but will telecast it online.
Sanatan Rudra Pal, another sculptor famous for making traditional Durga idols for some of Kolkata’s big-draw Pujas, appeared heartbroken. Rudra Pal is also making smaller idols. “Normally, 70% of my idols fall under the tall and big category. This year, the case has been just the reverse. This was unthinkable before the pandemic,” Rudra Pal said. His studios at Guru Das Dutta Garden Lane have made only a few big idols, including the ones for Ekdalia Evergreen and Park Circus. “This is a year of gloom for all of us,” he said.
Both Mintu Pal and Sanatan Rudra Pal felt without the state’s support, Kumatuli artisans will face acute financial crisis in the festival season, which in Bengal stretches till November with Kali Puja and Jagaddhatri Puja.
China Pal, who is among Kumartuli’s few woman sculptors, said the Shyambazar Subhas Sangha Durga Puja committee always gives her an order to make a 14.5-feet idol. This year, they have asked her to make a 4-feet idol. “This year, the idol’s size has been reduced by nearly all. I had to cancel orders for Annapurna Puja,” she said.
Deshapriya Park Durga Puja committee president Sudipto Kumar said they had consciously taken a decision to reduce the height of the idol and cut down on the Puja expenses to discourage gathering at the pandal. “We will worship goddess Durga keeping in mind the tradition associated with our puja. But we will not encourage gathering at our pandal,” Kumar said.
KMC’s board of administrator (BoA) member Debasish Kumar, a key organizer of Tridhara Sammilani, said: “We reduced the height of the idol and compromise on the budget of our Puja to prevent major gathering amid the pandemic.“