Artisans in Kumartuli have been busy making and exporting hundreds of Ganesh idols to Thailand for years. In Thailand, the Elephant God is called the Phra Phikanet and is known to be a deity for fortune and success and the remover of obstacles.
As the demand grew each year before Ganesh Chaturthi, the artisans were more than happy with this newfound market in Asia. However, the Covid pandemic in 2020 changed all that.
With the Covid infection now on the wane, artisans are hopeful that their business would resume next year.
Good demand
Devotees used to order idols from West Bengal and Maharashtra. Kolkata, however, being closer to Thailand, was the first choice for buyers. Also, idols made in Kumartuli are cheaper.
“Till 2020, we (Kumartuli artisans) had exported more than 500 idols per year to Thailand during the festival. There was also a demand throughout the year,” said Jayanta Pal, a fourth-generation idol-maker at Kumartuli, who has been involved with the Thailand trade since 2007.
Phra Phikanet slightly different from Ganesh
“The idols made for Thailand devotees are different from the traditional Ganesh idols we worship. Besides four hands and a Mushaka (the mouse) as its vahana, Phra Phikanet has a snake on the crown of the deity and is often seen sitting on a lotus. “Snakes are considered to be sacred in Thailand and hence it was added to the crown,” said Jayanta adding that the demand was mostly for clay and fibre idols, which cost between Rs 1,000 and Rs 8,000.
How the pandemic hit the market
The soaring business of exporting Phra Phikanet idols to Thailand crash landed in 2020 following a global lockdown. “We were hopeful that things would normalise this year, but it did not. The distribution chain that got disrupted due to the Covid menace is yet to be restored,” said Kumar Pal, another artisan.
Meanwhile, inflation has hit the global economy like never before and the cost of raw materials has hit the roof. Artisans are scared that in such a competitive market, China might hijack their business. “Post-Covid if China starts manufacturing idols at cheaper rates, we will not be able to sustain. Let’s hope and pray that things get better from 2023,” said Kumar.
