Kumartuli's Traditional Saraswati Idols Get a Doll-Like Transformation
This year in Kumartuli, the goddess Saraswati appears strikingly different. Artisans have given her softer cheeks, large glassy eyes, and a rounded childlike face. Alongside the usual traditional idols, this new doll-like aesthetic has firmly established itself on workshop benches across the neighborhood.
How a Single Experiment Sparked a Viral Trend
The shift began as one simple experiment late last year. It has now become one of the most popular styles this season. Social media references and viral images drive this sudden demand.
Artisan Tarun Pal traces the origin to his family workshop. They first attempted the "cute Saraswati" style last December. Tarun states clearly, "The whole cute Saraswati trend started with us. Our first idol for Chorebagan went viral. Then a cute Durga for Asansol also went viral. After that, people wanted cute versions of Kali, Lokkhi, and Jagaddhatri one after another."
Artisan Suchandrima Pal confirms the trend gained real momentum during Durga Puja. She says, "This trend gained predominance since Durga Puja. This year many customers came asking specifically for cute Saraswati idols."
Social Media Now Drives Every Customer Order
According to idol-makers, customer behavior has changed dramatically. Artisan Gopal Pal observes, "Each year brings some trend. This time people give us paintings, pictures, and references from social media. We make the idols accordingly. The focus is entirely on the aesthetic."
Customers now arrive with saved screenshots from Pinterest boards and viral reels. They present specific demands for faces, colors, and proportions. Another artist, Pradip Ray, adds, "This trend first spread on social media. Since the cute Durga went viral, people wanted more childlike idols. Now for Saraswati, it's at its peak."
Artisans Face Higher Costs and Extra Labor
While demand surges, the logistical load has doubled for workshops. Artisan Sushanta Das explains, "Since the trend is new, prices are higher than usual. One reason is that not all of us have the new cute face mould. We have to mould faces differently. Creating these moulds is a struggle."
Making a new mould can take several weeks. Many artisans hesitate to invest because they remain unsure if the trend will last beyond 2026. Das adds, "Some of us aren't creating moulds at all. We're making each face separately. It took us one month to make just four cute idol faces."
Painters also spend more time achieving the perfect doll-like finish. Workshops now juggle traditional orders with a surge in customized cute requests.
Strong Demand and Varied Price Points
Tarun Pal shares his recent experience. He personally delivered several pieces from a batch of 26 idols. He notes, "Prices vary now. Some are ₹18,000, some ₹25,000, some go beyond ₹60,000. Demand is strong."
Here is a general price guide for these new style idols:
- Medium-sized idols: ₹10,000 – ₹25,000
- Larger idols: ₹25,000 – ₹60,000+
- Premium custom pieces: Up to ₹70,000 depending on size, detailing, and finish
Tarun reveals, "In total, I've made around 30–32 idols in the cute style this year. Most are already sold. A few remain only because people haven't picked them up yet. The orders became so many that I eventually had to pass some on to other artisans."
Sushanta Das reiterates the cost factor. He says, "Since the trend is new, the prices are higher than those of regular idols of the same size. One reason is that not all of us have the new cute-face moulds. We have to shape the faces in an entirely new way. Creating these moulds itself has become a struggle."
The traditional potters' quarter of Kolkata now balances centuries-old craftsmanship with the instant demands of the digital age. This cute Saraswati trend highlights how social media can reshape even the most sacred artistic traditions.
