Quick Take
- Traditional Kumartuli artisans now use ChatGPT and AI apps to generate contemporary idol designs
- Jagat Mukherjee Park debuts AI-themed pandal questioning technology’s cultural impact
- India’s 900 million internet users create fertile ground for cultural-tech integration
- Festival committees shift from paper sketches to AI-generated design commissioning
Kolkata’s centuries-old Durga Puja festival embraces artificial intelligence as traditional artisans and community organizers integrate digital design tools with sacred craftsmanship, reflecting India’s broader technology adoption among its massive online population.
Traditional Craftsmen Embrace Digital Innovation
In the narrow lanes of Kumartuli, where generations of artisans have shaped clay into divine forms, Monti Paul represents something new. The veteran sculptor now relies on AI applications to transform verbal descriptions into detailed visual concepts for Durga idols.
“Artisans are now using artificial intelligence to find new designs, helping them to stay updated,” Paul explained. He demonstrates how ChatGPT and specialized design apps convert textual inputs into visual references that guide his clay work.
This shift has changed everything about the commissioning process. Festival committees used to rely on hand-drawn sketches or verbal descriptions. Now they present artisans with AI-generated images that capture their vision with unprecedented precision.
AI-Themed Pandals Challenge Cultural Boundaries
This year’s festival features pandals that engage directly with artificial intelligence as a subject. Jagat Mukherjee Park’s installation, designed by artist Subal Pal, presents a thoughtful examination of AI’s dual nature through religious iconography.
The pandal juxtaposes traditional depictions of goddess Durga with symbolic representations of AI dependency’s potential risks. It creates a space for community dialogue about technology’s role in cultural preservation.
Subal Pal, leading a historic community club’s AI integration initiative, captured the sentiment driving this transformation:
“We took the help of ChatGPT and other AI tools to get the idea of the pandal and idol of the goddess Durga.” – Subal Pal, artist and community club leader
Digital Infrastructure Enables Cultural Innovation
India’s position as home to over 900 million internet users provides the technological foundation enabling this cultural-digital convergence. While China maintains higher absolute user numbers, India’s openness to US-based technology companies strengthens its integration with global AI platforms.
This digital infrastructure creates opportunities for small and medium enterprises within the festival ecosystem. Electronic brands commission AI-generated murals in Newtown. Local businesses incorporate digital art into traditional decorations. The festival demonstrates technology’s potential to revitalize established industries.
Preserving Heritage Through Technological Adaptation
The integration challenges traditional assumptions about cultural preservation. Rather than replacing human creativity, AI tools expand artisans’ creative vocabulary while maintaining essential craftsmanship skills.
Young, tech-savvy visitors increasingly engage with these hybrid creations. This suggests that technological integration may help sustain interest in traditional arts among digital-native generations.
Economic Implications for Creative Industries
The festival’s technological adoption reflects broader trends affecting India’s creative economy. AI tools democratize design capabilities. Traditional artisans gain access to sophisticated visual resources previously available only to professionally trained designers.
This democratization potentially levels competitive advantages while creating new market segments for culturally informed AI applications. Festival organizers report increased efficiency in design approval processes. AI-generated concepts facilitate clearer communication between committees and craftsmen.
Balancing Innovation with Cultural Authenticity
The successful integration at Kolkata’s Durga Puja offers insights for other cultural institutions navigating technological change. By positioning AI as a design tool rather than a replacement for traditional skills, artisans maintain creative control while expanding their capabilities.
This approach preserves the festival’s spiritual and cultural significance. It demonstrates technology’s potential to enhance rather than diminish traditional practices. The model suggests pathways for other heritage industries seeking to benefit from digital innovation without compromising cultural integrity.
