‘From Clay to IDOL’

About this blog: 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 artisans are very creative so there art works, North kolkata is the place where you find kumartuli, the Potter's hub, the cafting was soo beautiful and they are doing there best to give us such amazing work's.

• 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 .that's called the magic, magic in the clay magic in the air magic is every where in komortuli.

• In every festival the Potter's of Kumartuli is soo busy in there work's, but durga puja is one the biggest festival in bengal and that is the time where their hard work Shine's.

• Kumartuli is an amazing place. In the maze of 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.

Where is Kumortuli located?

• Kumortuli is located in Ward No. 8 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, mostly between Rabindra Sarani (formerly Chitpur Road) and the Hooghly River. It is between Beniatola (Ahiritola) and Shobhabazar. In maps showing thanas or police stations in old Kolkata, Kumortuli is shown as being between Shyampukur, Bartala, Jorasanko, Jorabagan and Hooghly River..

Kumartuli is named after the potters (kumars or kumbhakars) who had settled in the area.

The Origin/Genesis of kumortuli

• Around 1757, Raja Nabakrishna Deb of Shobhabazar Rajbari (king's palace) in north Kolkata, inspired by Raja Krishnachandra, started the tradition of Durga Pujo at his family home. Skilled kumors were brought from Krishnanagar to create idols of the goddess—this was the genesis of Kumortuli.

The town of Kumartuli has its origins from the potters of Krishnanagar, a city in West Bengal's Nadia district.

Process of making the idols

There's a few process in the making of the idol's like the structure, adding the clay, colour the idol, colour the eye's and the decoration's.(in this process there are many others process like the sundry, give the heat of the face and many more, but i highlights the main part's)

• The structure : the artisan's first make a sturcture of the idol using bamboo stick's then they tied up stray to make the shape of the body.

• The clay : After making the body structure then they added the clay layer and finally the idol shape as human figure was came out.

• Colour the idol : colouring the idol is the main part after the idols are dry, first they add two or three white coat and after that they coloured the idol in skintone, yellow shades and nowadays the idol are coloured diffent matching with theme's and ornament's.

• Chokkhudan : After the idol's are coloured then the most beautiful part was happen the chokkhudan or bestowing of the eyes . In the day of mahalaya the artisan's are now create the eye's of the idol.

• Decoration : After all the process was done, there is a final part and after this the idol's are ready to shift to the pandal's. In this process the idol's are decorated with embellishments. Saree, dhoti or any cloth are adorned on the idols. Interestingly, the dresses worn by the idols are selected keeping in mind the changing times and demand. Sometimes the entire idol is made out in clay including the hair and dresses.

Usually, there are three types of decorations for the idols - Daaker saaj, Rangtaa Saaj and Sholar Saaj

In earlier days, Daaker saaj was done by special thin sheets of silver that used to arrive by post (daak) from Germany. Hence, the name for this decoration was given daaker saaj (daak means post and saaj means decoration), and today these item's are only made in kolkata not in Germany but name remains.

Rangtaa Saaj was done by thin beaten sheets of gold. Nowadays, neither silver nor gold is used, but the name has remained. Finally Sholar saaj is done by decorating the idols with white shoal or pith. Shola is obtained from the fleshy, white interiors of the bark of pith plants which are found in marshy areas of West Bengal and Bangladesh. Sholaar Saaj used to be the most popular one because of its pristine look. Nowadays, the idols are decorated in various ways other than these three traditional decorations.

The idol makers of Kumartuli

• More than 450 workshops are there in the lanes of Kumartuli. The skilled artisan regularly create idols of gods, goddesses and models for various other purposes. The time before the Durga Puja is the busiest in the year, though Bengalis have celebrations and festivals all round the year. Even before the Durga Puja, the artisans of Kumartuli are busy with Ganesh puja, Viswakarma puja. And after the Durga Puja comes Laxmi Puja, Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja.

Most of the Kumrtuli idol makers are old

working in their small dimly lit rooms. They

have been making the idols for years. And the generations remains do the family buisness in this field, most of the worker's and artisan's are male but in the hub's there is also some femal workers.

The women artist in kumartuli

• Traditionally, making of idol is a male dominated task and women were usually discouraged from entering the working studios.

However, of late, many women are finding their way into the male dominated area and also proving their mettle. If you visit Kumartuli, look out for the work of Maya Pal, Kakuli Pal and China Pal.

How to reach Kumartuli?

• Kumartuli is situated in Northern part of Kolkata very near to Bagbazar area. You can reach Kumartuli by hiring a cab or any public transport and it takes 25 to 30 minutes from Sealdah railway station.

• Alternatively, you can come to Bagbazar Railway station using circular railways and take a walk along the river Hooghly for 10 minutes before reaching Kumartuli.

• The nearest metro station is Sovabazar Metro. Kumartuli is 5-7 minutes walking distance from the metro.

You can go to Kumartuli any time during the year to see the artisan at work. The month. before Durga Puja is however the busiest and you can see the best work.

A few tips for visiting Kumartuli

• It is better to visit early in the morning.

• It is always better to ask permission before entering any workshop and taking photographs.

• Please be respectful towards the artisan and their work.

• Keep your eye's of everything, donnot touch any thing's ask for permission before touch any idol's or anything.