The Digital Revolution of Durga Puja: How AI is Transforming Kolkata's Ancient Festival Traditions

The integration of artificial intelligence with Durga Puja celebrations has emerged as a fascinating theme in itself.

In India, millions of Kolkata residents will embrace millennia-old traditions during this week's Durga Puja festival, engaging in vibrant street festivities and worshipping elaborately crafted idols in ornate pavilions.

This remarkable intersection between ancient divine practices and cutting-edge digital technology is transforming the festival as popular AI applications help generate innovative design concepts.

"Artisans are now leveraging artificial intelligence to discover fresh designs, enabling them to remain contemporary," potter Monti Paul remarked while admiring his creation of the goddess Durga.

His statue, crafted from clay molded onto a wire-and-straw framework and adorned with vivid neon pink and blue hues, portrays the powerful ten-armed, three-eyed goddess riding a lion as she vanquishes a demon buffalo—symbolizing the eternal triumph of good over evil.

Paul, aged 70, acquired his skillset from his father, following the tradition of hundreds of other potters working in the narrow pathways of Kumartuli, the city's historic idol-making district established centuries ago.

With a population exceeding 15 million, Kolkata transforms annually into a 10-day celebration of artistic expression, musical performances, and spiritual devotion—an event UNESCO has acknowledged as part of humanity's "intangible cultural heritage."

Central to these festivities are the meticulously crafted idols and temporary temples, known as "pandals," commissioned by thousands of community organizations.

Many of these creations reflect contemporary themes ranging from political statements to elements of popular culture.

'AI-driven images'

Artisans compete annually to produce increasingly impressive works that captivate visitors.

Paul explained that for decades, designs were either sketched on paper or described verbally by the thousands of committees commissioning these works.

However, commissioning communities now also utilize AI applications that generate extraordinary images through text prompts, effectively translating concepts into visual representations.

"This year, numerous festival organizers are selecting AI-generated images—they provide us with pictures of idols created using ChatGPT," he noted, mentioning that these draw upon "thousands of images of Durga idols from historical periods."

"We then endeavor to create idol designs according to the organizers' specifications."

India, boasting 900 million internet users according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India, has developed into one of the world's largest markets for AI tools.

The country represents the largest user base for Google's Nano Banana image-generation model and holds second position for ChatGPT usage.

While China possesses more internet users, India maintains an openness to American technology companies.

'Blessing or a curse'

The fusion of artificial intelligence with Durga Puja has itself evolved into a thematic element for some celebrations.

Subal Paul, secretary at a century-old community organization in northern Kolkata, revealed that they selected artificial intelligence as their central motif.

"We utilized ChatGPT and other AI tools to conceptualize the pandal and the idol of goddess Durga," he explained.

"We employed chatbots... highlighting how artificial intelligence is transforming our daily existence."

Their pavilion features elaborate decorations including oversized computer keyboards and flashing illumination, set against a backdrop resembling information technology office towers.

Two life-sized robotic figures guard the entrance, while another rotates atop the pandal roof before the sacred idol.

"The established order has transformed, making way for a new paradigm," 45-year-old Subal Paul reflected. "We remain uncertain whether this represents a blessing or a curse."

For many participants, technology merely enhances a festival renowned for transcending boundaries of social class, religious affiliation, and community divisions.

"Nothing compares to the spectacular and soulful nature of this tradition," remarked Ajoy Bhattacharya, an 80-year-old Sanskrit scriptures scholar.

"It represents a perfect amalgamation of tradition, cultural heritage, and modernity."