Mintu Pal’s family has been making idols in Kumartuli for over a 100 years, and is one of the most popular choices for overseas customers. While he makes 10-12 idols every year for foreign clients, the last two Pujos saw a sharp decline due to the pandemic, and he only got two orders. This year, he is optimistic that the festival will be restored to its former glory, and is sending 10 ‘protimas’ abroad
Ritagnik Bhattacharya
A significant chunk of his orders have already left Kolkata port on ships destined for the US. His shilpis are currently in the process of packing orders for Chicago (in picture) and Dubai. “Puja Committees outside India prefer to have the protima in place a month before the festival, so we begin sending the idols from April, and wrap it up by May. If an idol goes after this period, it is generally sent by air,” says Mintu
Ritagnik Bhattacharya
Mintu also points out that while puja committees abroad do like contemporary idols, they don’t abandon their roots. “Modern touch shobai chaye, kintu end e murti debi’r motoni hoy,” he said. Apart from catering to major cities in the UK and US, Pal is also sending idols to Italy and Japan
Ritagnik Bhattacharya
Anjan Ghosh’s children live in Seattle, and he coordinated with Mintu to prepare and send a protima for Moitri – Bengali Association of Greater Seattle Area – recently. “Last year we couldn’t get Maa to Seattle as Covid led to problems in finding a warehouse. This time, she has arrived here already, and I can’t wait to see her in all her glory once she reaches her final location,” he exclaims
Anjan Ghosh
Mintu’s job has become easier in recent years. A majority of his overseas clients get in touch with him through WhatsApp. He expresses his happiness over business returning to pre-Covid numbers, and hopes that destiny allows him to visit his protimas in their ‘probashi Bangali’ homes
Ritagnik Bhattacharya
Another prominent idolmaker, Raja Pal, is putting the finishing touches to an idol (above) to be sent to Texas. “The idols we export aren’t made of mud, like the ones we see in Kolkata. These idols are made of fibre, because it’s lighter, lowers the transportation cost and makes it easier to move,” he says, adding that fibre protimas also last for years, and many committees abroad prefer to use the same protima again
Ritagnik Bhattacharya
