Ratha Yatra is an auspicious day for all Durga Puja organisers, as most of them visit Kumortuli to place orders for idols. But this year, Kumortuli witnessed a very few takers because of the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty all around. “Yesterday, a few organisers came in the evening to place orders, but the budget was the main constraint. There were a lot of enquiries and discussions about the price of the idols. A few of them gave an advance. Others promised to come back in August, as they will have a clear picture by then. Last year on Rath Yatra, we had 50 orders from different puja committees but this year it is only 12. This is a difficult time for all the artisans at Kumortuli and the labour issue is affecting a lot of idol makers here. The cost of raw materials has gone up but we can’t increase the price. A Durga idol, which was sold for Rs 40,000 last year, will now cost Rs 42,000, with a minimum profit margin. We expect more organisers to visit us in August,” informed Babu Pal, secretary of Kumortuli Mrit Shilpa Sanskiriti Samity.
Source:Times of India
