Durga Puja is one of the most important festivals not only in Bengal, but also in India. Have you ever wondered where the idols of the Gods and Goddesses are made? There is a small locality in North Kolkata where a community of potters live, known for their expertise in sculpting these idols from clay. This place is called Kumartuli or Kumortuli.

The moment we stepped in the alleys and by-lanes of this North Kolkata neighbourhood, we realised we had arrived at a different world. Steeped in traditions and heritage, the god-makers of Kumartuli or Kumortuli are silently giving shape to the divine. Kolkata is a fascinating city. With all its modernity, she also fiercely guards her heritage. For those who are strangers to Kolkata and Durga Puja, Kumartuli will just be a name. But for us, Kumartuli is one such place where history, heritage and divinity have seamlessly merged into each other.

Durga Puja is the most famous festival of Kolkata. During these five days of festivities, Kolkata adorns in the best possible way and so are her residents. Durga Puja is no longer a religious festival of the Hindus, but it has become a carnival and a social festival. And Kumartuli is inexorably related to Durga Puja.

Kumartuli is an amazing place. In the lanes between Sovabazar and Ahiritola, the gifted artisans are continuously creating their masterpieces and bringing the Gods and Goddesses on earth. The neighbourhood supports not only the potters who make idols, but also the many other artisans and traders related with the process of idol making. There are small shops selling the embellishment and ornamentations used to decorate the idols, while some shops are selling clothes that are used as sarees and dhotis on the idols. Kumartuli was and is still the largest hub of Durga idols in Bengal.

#kumartuli #durgapuja #mahalaya

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