Kumartuli: where clay comes alive

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.