Indore: With the festive season of Navratri and Durga Puja approaching, Indore idol-making workshops have experienced a transition to traditional craftsmanship, abandoning the contemporary trends in AI-generated design following guidance from local governments.Local workshops have received clear instructions from the police to maintain traditional idol designs. “The purpose of this year is to focus on traditional sculpture styles rather than AI-generated inspiration. However, the demand for AI-generated designs is being poured from customers,” says Raju Pal, a craftsman at Bangalis Air.The intervention followed concerns about the inappropriate expression of the goddess. “A few days ago, the police instructed us not to use AI-generated inspiration. Many people brought images like the goddess' children, but police said their designs were disrespectful to Durgama.“We have encouraged idol makers to take necessary precautions and avoid experimenting with designs that could hurt public emotions,” said Inspector Saharsh Yadav, Canadian Police Station.Despite focusing on traditional design, artisans manage unprecedented demand. Atul Pal, a third generation artisan from Bengal, reported that he received nearly 250 orders this season, including a key committee worth Rs 1.11 lakh for Mahakar Rock in Ujain. “Orders like this provide recognition and motivation, but they put pressure on us to deliver on time and ensure that all details are perfect,” he said. Young craftsmen face specific pressures to meet evolving customer preferences while maintaining traditional techniques. “Previously people were happy with simple idols, but now they want details of human-like faces, and sometimes they bring AI-generated images for reference. Technology offers new ideas, but it also moves away from traditional styles,” said Madhur Mohan Pal.Multi-generational workshops continue to emphasize the cultural significance of their work. Narayan Paul, representing the family of five generations of idol makers, highlighted the enduring appeal of traditional Bengali sculptures. “Some customers prefer traditional Bengali sculptures, a bold-eyed goddess covered in red saris sitting on a lion. Ganpati idols bring higher incomes, but Durga idols have cultural significance that I don't want to let go,” Paul said. Increased costs force actual adaptation in the idol-making process. “Due to the rising GST and transportation costs, we mainly use local 'Chake Muds'. Accessories such as hair, jewelry, fabrics and more are from Kolkata because of their unparalleled quality.' The creation of each Durga idol remains an elaborate business that lasts almost five months, with seasonal artisans like Ramesh's fellow supervising a specialist team dealing with everything from the structure of the bamboo framework to final paintings and dressings.
