Hindu gods and goddesses go global

Kolkata, Aug 6 (UNI) Don't be taken aback if you chance upon an idol of Goddess Durga or Lord Ganesh while on your visit abroad, because Hindu Gods and Goddesses have, off late, gone global.

Kudos to Amarnath Ghose, who has innovated the idea of sculpting idols from 'sola' a kind of thermocole, upon the request of an NRI from Germany, who desired to celebrate Durga Puja there.

''She wanted something light, as clay idols are very heavy and inconvinent to carry. So I settled for 'sola' and crafted her an idol which turned out to be a huge favourite there,'' avers an excited Ghose.

Since then there has been no looking back. Amarnath has been exporting these idols to countries across the globe.

Amarnath has now passed on his art to his son Kaushik who has turned it into a full-fleged business during the last 22 years.

Beautifully carved and adorned with intricate designs these colourful idols are a treat to one's eyes.

''It takes nearly a month to complete one idol as sola is very delicate and hence utmost care is needed while carving as everything has to be done manually,'' Kaushik Ghose told UNI.

Not only Durga or Ganesh, one can find Goddess Kali, Laxmi, Saraswati, Lord Krishna and many more in his studio. ''Ten to 15 idols are carved in a month and four to five artisans are deployed to finish this innovative piece of art,'' said Ghose.

''Non Resident Bengalis all over the world celebrate 'Bongo Sammelan' during Durga Puja and the need of these idols is highest then,'' reveals Ghose.

He said they have been exporting about 25 to 30 idols annually and the cost varies depending upon the size. An idol can fetch anything from Rs 75,000 to some lakhs.

''We carve idols ranging from one to eight feet and export them through ships and by air even,'' he added.

The Ghoses have no fixed work schedule and work the year round to meet the needs of the people.

He said all the figures and figurines have a durability of eight to ten years and the colours used to paint them are are eco-freindly vegetable colour.

An enthusiastic Ghose is proud that his art has been praised in countries like Italy, France, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.

Their works have found prestigious place in one of the Museums in England, Kaushik claimed.

But the irony lay in the fact that despite huge popularity abroad, they are yet to get recognition here.

UNI PP PL PA HS1059