Kolkata: The return journey of Lord Jagannath’s chariot, or Ulto Rath, is considered an auspicious occasion, and on Friday it brought an early festive cheer to Kumartuli as Ganesh idol orders began pouring in, raising hopes of a busier season for the city’s famous idol-making hub.Several community puja organisers and housing societies chose the day to pay the bayana, or advance, for Ganesh idols, even though the festival falls in the second week of Sept.For many artisans, the early rush was an encouraging sign that Ganesh Puja continues to gain ground in Kolkata and the suburbs.“I received orders for five idols on Ulto Rath. For many organisers, Ulto Rath is an auspicious occasion to start preparations for Ganesh Puja.
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Every year they start by booking the Ganesh idol on this day,” said China Pal, a woman idol maker in Kumartuli.Many artisans have already begun crafting Ganesh idols well ahead of the festival as organisers and housing societies often prefer to buy or take delivery of the idols only a few days before the puja. The advance production helps workshops cope with the surge in demand closer to the festival. “I have already readied some idols which people booked on Ulto Rath. They will take the delivery closer to the festival,” said Pal.Ganesh Puja, traditionally celebrated on a grand scale in Maharashtra and several other western states, has steadily expanded its footprint in Kolkata over the past decade. What began as a relatively small celebration in business establishments and a handful of neighbourhoods has evolved into a community festival in many parts of the city and the adjoining areas.Artisans attribute the growing popularity of the festival to several factors, including the rise of start-ups and small businesses, the increasing appeal of Lord Ganesha as the deity associated with prosperity and new beginnings, and the influence of popular culture, including Bollywood.The festival also acquired a political dimension in recent years. While senior ministers in the former Trinamool govt helmed some of Kolkata’s prominent Durga Pujas, many second- and third-rung party functionaries began organising Ganesh Pujas in their localities, further expanding the festival’s presence.According to Kumartuli artisans, the trend visible on Ulto Rath points to a larger festive season ahead. Artisans believe the early bookings indicate not only that several new Ganesh Pujas will debut this year but also that many existing community celebrations are likely to grow in scale by commissioning bigger and more elaborate idols.“There have been many orders from organisers who will be organising Ganesh Puja for the first time. This shows that there might be an increase in the number of the pujas this year,” said Gouranga Pal, another artisan.
