Artisan Kaushik Basu makes the idols with clay. He is famous among overseas Indians because he makes Durga idols for pujas outside the country
Kumartuli artisan makes 10ft fiberglass Durga idol for Indian community in San Francisco
The things that the overseas Indians miss a lot in their countries of residence are festivals, languages and spontaneity people during such occasions.
The Covid-19 pandemic has snatched their opportunity of visiting India and then to their respective states. Many are stuck and have not travelled to India for two years due to travel bans, protocols, tests and most importantly the fear of third wave that the experts are predicting for India.
He prefers making small idols that are easy to ship to countries. But on special demand he is working on a 10-feet fiberglass idol for the San Francisco Indian Community.
Amid all this, there is happiness among the Indian community in San Francisco. An artisan from Kumartuli in West Bengal has carved a 10-feet fibreglass idol of Goddess Durga for them. It will be shipped to San Francisco for people to perform rituals of Durga Puja, the celebrations for which will start ‘Shasthi’ (October 11, 2021). On ‘Shasthi’ Goddess Durga comes on the earth with her four children — Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya and Ganesh. The idols of the goddess and others are unveiled on this day.
Artisan Kaushik Basu makes the idols with clay. He is famous among overseas Indians because he makes Durga idols for pujas outside the country.
He prefers making small idols that are easy to ship to countries. But on special demand he is working on a 10-feet fiberglass idol for the San Francisco Indian Community.
The festivity this year will continue till ‘Navami’ (October 14, 2021). ‘Navami is the last day of worship, which concludes with a ‘maha aarti’ (great fire ceremony) to mark the end of the rituals and prayers.
Dashami (October 15, 2021) is the day idols are taken for immersion and the festival end with this.
Kumartuli is famous for making clay idols and the idols that are made here are supplied all over India or some artisans go to places and make idols as per their customers’ requirements.