In Kolkata’s famed potters’ quarter Kumartuli, the rhythm of Durga Puja takes shape in clay.
Weeks ahead of the festival, artisans work long hours in cramped workshops, transforming bundles of straw, layers of clay and bamboo frames into majestic idols of Goddess Durga.
With remarkable skill and patience, they mould the clay, shape the figures, refine the facial features and carefully paint the idols, gradually bringing the idols to life before they are carried to puja pandals across Kolkata and beyond.
Kumartuli’s history dates back nearly 300 years and is closely linked to Krishnanagar, in West Bengal’s Nadia district.
Maharaja Krishnachandra of Krishnanagar is credited with popularising idol worship, with the first Durga Puja believed to have been celebrated there in 1606.
Over time, potters from the area migrated to the city, settling along the Hooghly River.
While some workshops retain the traditional shabeki style, others experiment with contemporary designs.
Idols made for community pandals and household pujas cost between ₹50,000 and ₹3 lakh, depending on their size, with eco-friendly colours adding to the price.
Few women have broken barriers to enter the traditionally male-dominated craft in Kumartuli.
As the festival approaches, the narrow lanes fill with bloggers, photographers, social media influencers and tourists documenting the artisans at work.
The crowds reflect how the age-old craft now intersects with tourism and social media, offering visitors a glimpse of Durga Puja preparations and the painstaking craftsmanship behind one of Kolkata’s most celebrated festivals.
Deepak Expert strokes: While some workshops retain the traditional shabeki style, others experiment with contemporary designs to meet specific commissions.
Deepak Work in progress: Ahead of Durga Puja, artisans perfect clay idols of Goddess Durga, Lord Ganesh and other deities at Kumartuli in Kolkata.
Deepak Basic coat: An artisan sprays paint on a clay idol at Kumartuli, where few women have broken barriers to enter the traditionally male-dominated craft.
Deepak Divine details: Idols cost between ₹50,000 and ₹3 lakh, depending on their size, with eco-friendly colours adding to the making charge.
Deepak Decked to impress: People crowd around to photograph an idol of Goddess Durga as it is readied for transport from Kumartuli.
Deepak Form to faith: Artisans breathe life into the clay idols that will soon grace puja pandals and move devotees Photo: K.R.
Deepak Moulded by time:For many artisan families, idol-making is a generations-old tradition, with Durga Puja believed to have been first celebrated in Krishnanagar, Nadia district, in 1606.
Deepak Festive flair: One of Kolkata’s most celebrated festivals, Durga Puja brings communities together in a celebration of faith while providing a livelihood for many.
Deepak Young fans: Visitors take selfies and pose for photographs beside unfinished idols of Goddess Durga at Kumartuli.
