Caring for the Creators: Manipal Hospitals Honours Kumartuli Idol Makers and Extends Care to the Craftsmen Behind Maa Durga….

Staff Reporter :  Kolkata, 2nd September 2025: While Bengal is preparing itself to receive Maa Durga with pomp and glory, Manipal Hospitals Kolkata, one of the leading healthcare providers of India, initiated a novel gesture to pay tribute to the artisans of Kumartuli, the same hands which carve out the Goddess herself. At a special event, conducted today by Manipal Hospitals Kolkata honoured the idol makers and discussed their health and wellness requirements.
The occasion was graced by the presence of Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Manipal Hospitals East, along with Dr. Kunal Sarkar, Dr. Vikash Kapoor, Dr. Shubhayu Banerjee, Dr. Sourav Datta, Dr. Payel Bose, Dr. Kishen Goel, Dr. Debraj Jash, Dr. Sujit Chaudhuri, Dr. Anshu Sen, Dr. Suranjan Mukherjee, Dr. Smita Moitra, Dr. Sima Dutta Roy, Dr. Paromita Kanjilal Chakraborty, Dr. Soumen Basu, Dr. Abhinibesh Chatterjee and Dr. Polly Chatterjee who came together to salute the artisans and extend their support to the cause. In collaboration with the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and the Idol Makers’ Association, Manipal Hospitals Kolkata also launched Privilege Health Cards for idol makers to ensure priority treatment, medical consultation and benefits.
The programme also included a felicitation ceremony, in which consultants from the hospital group felicitated the artisans on their workmanship and devotion. One of the major highlights of the day was a panel discussion on “Prevention is Better Than Cure”, with the health issues idol makers tend to encounter because of the physical and environmental character of their work. Experts in cardiology, eye care, respirology, orthopaedics, gastroenterology, neurology, and emergency medicine delivered preventive and precautionary practices to artisans to protect their health prior to the festive season.
The activity ended with an interactive Q&A session, where the idol makers participated in insightful conversations about their health concerns with the experts.
About the initiative, Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Manipal Hospitals East, said, “Durga Puja is not a festival, it is the heart and soul of Bengal. The artisans of Kumartuli, with their unparalleled commitment, give life to the Goddess each year. Their efforts are not craftsmanship, it is worship, and it is the spirit of the land. At Manipal Hospitals, we pay respect to their spirit and remain committed to their well-being and health. As they take care of Bengal’s culture, tradition, and faith through their art, we pledge to take care of their health through our expertise and compassion. This initiative is our way of ensuring that those who give us the divine form of Maa Durga remain healthy, strong, and celebrated.”
Since the festivities of Durga Puja unite millions of people, the craftsmen of Kumartuli continue to remain at the core of this cultural tradition, sculpting more than 3,000 pandals in Kolkata, 5,000 in India, and almost 10,000 idols that are exported globally every year. Appreciating their dedication and craftsmanship, Manipal Hospitals, with the power of more than 40,000 staff and 7,000 physicians, reconfirmed its commitment to protect the health and wellbeing of these artisans. This initiative reflects yet another step by Manipal Hospitals to remain deeply connected with the cultural heartbeat of Bengal, ensuring that the hands which create Maa Durga continue to stay strong and healthy.
About Manipal Hospitals
As a pioneer in healthcare, Manipal Hospitals is among the top healthcare providers in India serving over 7 million patients annually, with a focus on providing affordable, high-quality healthcare services. Manipal’s integrated network today has a pan-India footprint of 38 hospitals across 19 cities with 10,500+ beds, and a talented pool of 7,200+ doctors and an employee strength of over 20,500. Manipal Hospitals provides comprehensive curative and preventive care for a multitude of patients from around the globe. Manipal Hospitals is NABH, AAHRPP accredited and most of the hospitals in its network are NABL, ER, Blood Bank accredited and recognized for Nursing Excellence.