Duttapukur’s fibreglass idols go to Canada, London & US
Times of India | 3 September 2025
Kolkata: Duttapukur, around 35 km north of Kolkata along Jessore Road, has once again attracted international attention as Durga idols crafted in the area are being exported globally.
This year, a local artisan's creations are destined for Canada, Japan, London, and the United States, all made of fibreglass.
For years, Bengal's Durga Puja has garnered global recognition, with celebrations extending beyond the state. From Canada to Japan, the United Kingdom to the United States, Durga Puja is celebrated with grandeur abroad, often featuring idols crafted by Bengal's artisans.
This year, artisan Animesh Paul from Duttapukur in North 24 Parganas has again sent his fibre Durga idols overseas.
His creations are headed to Japan, the UK, Australia, Canada, Dubai, and the USA. Among them, a seven-foot-tall idol weighing 60 kgs was shipped to Canada, while another 50-kg idol, five-and-a-half feet in height, was sent to the USA. London will also receive a five-and-a-half-foot idol, and Japan is expecting a 60-kg idol in the coming week.
Paul, who has been making fibre idols for over 10 years, operates his own workshop in Duttapukur off Jessore Road.
While speaking to TOI, Paul said, "Orders start coming in from the beginning of the year. Once the idols are crafted, they are shipped abroad, mostly by sea. Some idols are also sent by air to destinations like Japan, China and Mumbai. Already several of my idols have left for Canada, Dubai, London and the US in early August."
The fabrication process is elaborate. Similar to clay idols, the structure begins with straw, followed by a clay coating.
A plaster mould is then created, which is divided into 70 to 80 parts—hands, feet, torso, neck, palms and so on. These parts are then cast in fibre, polished, and assembled with primer and putty before receiving their finishing touches. Unlike traditional idols, oil-based wall paints are used to colour fibre idols, ensuring durability as many organisers abroad reuse them for three to four years.
Special care also goes into decoration. "It feels wonderful to know that our idols are being worshipped abroad.
It's truly a matter of pride," Paul added. Orders are placed online, with prices varying by size. A 6-ft idol sells for around Rs 2 lakh, while smaller idols cost between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh. This year, his highest-priced idol, nine feet tall, was sold for Rs 3.5 lakh and has been sent to London.
"However, since the Durga idols have to travel long distances abroad, there is always a risk of damage during the journey. The idols are carefully packed so that they can be transported safely. Fortunately, none of my idols have ever been damaged during transit. They have always reached their destinations completely intact. Moreover, not just Durga idols, we send many other fibreglass works abroad throughout the year.
Recently, we crafted and sent a 12-feet idol of Ramakrishna Paramhansa Dev to the Ramakrishna Mission in Chicago, US," Paul told TOI.