Kolkata: With only two months to go for Mahalaya, and more rain predicted in the coming days, artisans in Kumartuli are racing against time to complete Durga idols. July and Aug are usually the busiest for idol makers, as well as the most challenging, with persistent rain, overcast skies, and humidity hampering the drying and detailing of the clay idols.This year, most idol makers have taken proactive steps to ensure work doesn’t come to a halt, like installing blow dryers, pedestal fans, and makeshift ovens, and waterproofing their workshops with tarpaulin sheets and plastic covers. Though Durga Puja will start in the last week of Sept this year, many puja committees will take idol deliveries earlier.“Idol makers depend on clear skies and strong sunlight to naturally dry the clay structures before painting and decorating. But this time every year, rain, overcast conditions, and lack of proper sunlight delay the process. Many artisans have taken measures to weather the monsoon and continue work unhindered,” said Kartik Pal of Kumartuli Mritshilpi Sanskritik Samiti, a local artisans’ collective.Over 600 idol workshops line the alleys of Kumartuli, many of them makeshift sheds vulnerable to leaks and flooding. “We have waterproofed our workshop using layers of plastic and installed pedestal fans. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than losing days of work because of water damage,” said Prodyut Pal, an idol maker in Kumartuli. Artisans are using small ovens to dry smaller parts, like hands, faces, and weapons. Mala Pal, one of the few female idol makers in Kumartuli, said: “We have strict delivery deadlines. This year, we’ve invested in blow torches and pedestal fans to speed up the drying process inside the workshops.”Durga Puja is more than a tradition — it’s an economy. From decorators to transporters, everyone’s schedule depends on the timely completion of idols.
