Bengali sculptors flock to Chennai to uphold Durga Pujo family legacy

For most of the sculptors, like Kishori Mohan Pal, the trip to the city is an annual pilgrimage that they undertake for their livelihood. “Making Kali ma, Durga and Ganesha idols for Durga Pujo has been our family trade for generations. It was my father who came to Chennai with the trade in 1982 and, ever since, our family comes to the city for three months every year during the festival to make and sell the idols,” explains Kishori Mohan. Kishori has come down to the city this year with eight other artists from Kolkata. 

When he speaks about the idols he makes, it is clear that Kali is his favourite one to work on. When asked if that’s the idol he makes the most, he smiles and says, “We make the idols depending on demand, but yes, we get a lot of orders for Kali and Durga sculptures. Our customers come to us with specific demands and photo references about how these idols should look. We make it accordingly. We are almost done with this year’s work. We have made 10-foot clay sculptures for the festival which will be sold in areas like T Nagar.”

With their work almost done for the season, the artists are eager to get back home. “We love Chennai and have been coming here regularly, but, when it comes to Durga Pujo, there is no city that can rival Kolkata. Compared to home, it doesn’t even feel like there is a puja happening in Chennai. So, even though we won’t be able to see our own sculptures decked up and worshipped, we’ll be leaving the city before the festivities begin,” he explains.