The wait for Chaturthi or Panchami to bring Durga idols to pandals is now a thing of the past.
Across workshops in Kumartuli, the idols have been moving out since Thursday. By Monday, Dwitiya, most workshops in the artisans’ hub in north Kolkata are likely to be empty.
Puja, for most, will start the day after, Tritiya.
“We are almost ready. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to inaugurate our puja on Sunday. The gates will be open to visitors from Tuesday, Tritiya,” said Sandipan Banerjee of Behala Natun Dal, one of the crowd-pullers in the city’s south-western pocket.
Through much of Thursday and Friday, Kumartuli was abuzz as puja organisers lifted idols on trailers and trucks and carried them to their pandals. Over the next two days, beginning Mahalaya (Saturday), “it will be madness”, a number of artisans said.
“The idols this time started moving out on Wednesday. Three of them were delivered on Thursday. The delivery to one puja in Howrah has been scheduled for Mahalaya,” said artisan China Pal.
“The idols of only three pujas will be delivered on Panchami (October 19, the day before the Puja formally starts). This year, there seems to be a competition among the organisers to start early,” Pal said.
Not so long ago, most organisers would bring idols to their pandals on Tritiya or Chaturthi. A few final touches back on the idols at the pandal and the stage would be ready by Sashthi to welcome the Goddess.
“The number of deliveries scheduled for Chaturthi is now very few. Organisers who had their delivery dates on Monday or Tuesday have been calling up to say they want to take the idols on Saturday,” said Babu Pal, general secretary of the Kumartuli Mritshilip Sankritik Samity.
“We have told them that it takes time to finish a Durga idol and one can’t suddenly bring forward the delivery date.”
With close to 400 artisans working across 140 workshops, Kumartuli has remained the biggest draw for clay idols.
Artisans and industry insiders said that last year, Kumartuli had clocked business worth close to Rs 100 crore. This year, it could be more as many puja organisers placed bigger orders.
“This year, Kumartuli has made close to 3,800 idols. Most of them will be out of here by Monday,” Babu Pal said.
The organisers of Deshapriya Park puja brought the idol from Kumartuli on Thursday. “This is probably the earliest we brought the idol to our pandal,” said Sudipta Kumar, organising secretary of the puja.
Several others, like Bosepukur and Hatibagan Sarbojonin, will be open to visitors from Tuesday. Sreebhumi Sporting Club plans to open the gates from the evening of Saturday.