Kumartuli Potters in a Fix Over Decoration Materials Ahead of Puja

13 September-Kolkata, India: The idol makers of Kumartuli are worried and struggling to find new ideas and replacements to adorn the idols of Durga Puja in the upcoming weeks, as the cultivation of wood sponge(shola) and thermocol is completely banned this year.

The Kolkata Police also conducted various crackdowns and raids at the potter colonies, which makes the situation really worriesome, as they can complete their work of decorating the idols since the customers are waiting and Durga Puja is going to start in the upcoming weeks.

Idolmakers on the situation

A generational idol artist in Kumartuli by the name of Kamal Paul highlighted on the pathetic situation and said “The detailed decorations and ornaments we can make for goddess Durga with this thermocol are not possible with any other material. Most other things are expensive and difficult to process. All artists have already invested lakhs in buying thermocol, how will we cope with only two weeks left for the pujas?.”

But due to the ban, Kamal couldn’t finish his work since the crown and little colourful pieces are made of thermocol. Kamal questions why, if large parcels are made up of thermocol, small struggling artists like him have to endure the burden of the ban.

Another artist also highlighted on the sitiuation and said “They should help us find alternatives and have a concrete plan before they ban thermocol. We are poor artists, how will we find alternatives? This needs to be researched and studied. Forced ban on the 11^th hour will not help.”

People consider it a tradition to make the decorations out of shola, which is a kind of wood sponge mainly available in Eastern India, mainly used to adorn ornaments and decorate pandals, especially during weddings and pujas.

Kumartuli idolmakes revolt against the ban

The Kumartuli Mrit Shilpi Samiti (Association of potters and artists) have requested and urged the local MLA Sasti Panja to look into the situation and let the idolmakers allow to use thermocol to complete idol decorations this year until they find a replacement the upcoming year. They also said “if police raid their premises against the thermocol ban then they will have to live under constant fear and finishing the deadlines would become impossible.”

The local artists has been facing this problem since 2022, when the West Bengal Pollution Board banned on using thermocol for any use. Due to this situation, each year the artists have to negotiate and collaborate with the local party leaders to complete their work on deadlines.

Bankim Pal, one of the most aged potters in the business stated that “I understand the environmental concern. I have read about the harmful effects of thermocol. But as artists with very few resources, what other alternative do we have? Metal or cloth will not make appropriate or affordable replacements.”