An artisan works on semi-finished clay statues of Hindu deities in Kumortuli, the idol-makers village of Kolkata, India.

Kumortuli is a traditionally potters' quarter in northern Kolkata (previously known as Calcutta), the capital of the east Indian state of West Bengal. By virtue of their artistic productions these potters have moved from obscurity to prominence. This Kolkata neighbourhood, not only supplies clay idols of Hindu gods and goddesses to barowari pujas in Kolkata and its neighbourhoods, but a number of idols are exported.It is one of the seven wonders in Kolkata.

Kumortuli images are generally ordered well in advance and there a few for off-the-shelf sale. Nowadays, Kumortuli's clientele has extended to America, Europe and Africa, among the Indian communities living there. In 1989, Durga images made out of shola pith by Amarnath Ghosh were flown to Sweden, Australia, Malaysia and Nigeria. The images weighed only three kilograms each and were ideally suited for air travel.In modern times, Statues and replicas made out of Fiberglass are also being produced and exported to various parts of the country and the world.

In 2006, Kumortuli supplied 12,300 clay deities of goddess Durga. This potter's town supplies images to about 90 countries worldwide with new nations joining the list every year. Many East European countries, where religious ceremonies were previously banned, have started buying images from Kumortuli. A spokesman of Kumartuli Shilpi Sangha (KSS), an association of the craftsmen, said the NRIs of countries like Hungary, Bulgaria, Russia, Austria and Poland, come to Kumortuli to buy images. U.S. based NRIs, including the Bengali Association of Southern California, Bengali Association of Greater Chicago, Dakshini, Sanskriti, Garden State Puja Committee of New Jersey, East Coast Durga Puja Committee of New York, come to Kumartuli to select deities to ship to their cities. Additionally, hundreds of agents in Kolkata service NRIs seeking idols from Kumortuli.

In Kolkata, the icon-artisans mostly dwell in poor living conditions. The more popular among them are Mohan Banshi Rudra Pal and his sons Sanatan Rudra Pal and Pradip Rudra Pal, Rakhal Pal, Ganesh Pal, Aloke Sen, Kartik Pal, Kena Pal, who are still reigning figures of Kumortuli and despite the threats from the 'theme artists', they are booked by major puja organisers who admire the old school. Women are not lagging behind. Kumortuli boasts of the presence of some 30-odd women-artisans, like Minati Pal, Soma Pal, Kanchi Pal and Chapa Rani Pal. They have been in the business of idol making for a long time. Kumortuli's own Durga Puja dates back to 1933. The image maker was Gopeswar Pal.

Source: Wikipedia

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