Entertainment · Books & Arts · 20 hrs ago
Kumartuli artisans shape clay idols ahead of Durga Puja
Kumartuli is a potters’ quarter in Kolkata, where artisans make clay idols for Durga Puja.
Weeks before the festival, they use straw, clay and bamboo frames to build and decorate figures of Durga and other deities.
The finished idols are carried to worship sites across Kolkata and beyond.
Kumartuli’s craft has a history of nearly 300 years and is linked to potters who migrated from Krishnanagar in West Bengal.
Workshops range from traditional designs to contemporary styles, and idols cost from ₹50,000 to ₹3 lakh, with eco-friendly colours adding to the price.
Idol-making supports artisans and their families, while the work also draws tourists, photographers and social media users.
Few women have entered the traditionally male-dominated craft.
Artisans in Kumartuli, Kolkata, are making clay idols ahead of Durga Puja.
They build the figures with straw, clay and bamboo, then shape, refine and paint them.
The finished idols are carried to puja pandals across Kolkata and beyond.
Some workshops follow traditional shabeki designs, while others make contemporary versions.
Idols cost between ₹50,000 and ₹3 lakh, depending on size, with eco-friendly colours adding to the price.
- Who
- Artisans in Kumartuli, including a few women who have entered the traditionally male-dominated craft.
- What
- They are making clay idols of Goddess Durga and other deities ahead of Durga Puja.
- When
- Weeks ahead of the festival; the article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Kumartuli, Kolkata, West Bengal.
- Why
- To prepare idols for puja pandals and household worship during Durga Puja.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
Artisans work in Kumartuli workshops to build, shape and paint clay idols.
The finished idols are carried to puja pandals across Kolkata and beyond.
- Location
- Kumartuli, Kolkata
- Materials
- Straw, clay and bamboo frames
- Idol prices
- ₹50,000 to ₹3 lakh, depending on size
- Published
- October 11, 2026
Sources
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