KUMARTULI: THE FACTORY OF THE IDOLS

Kolkata the city of joy can offer you some really excellent travel accomplishments. Every lanes and road of Kolkata has a history and its full of memories. Kolkata was a huge district containing three most essential villages – Gobindopur, Sutanuti, and kalikata. Once upon a time, it was considered to be the favorite places of English.

Kumartuli which belongs to the northern part of Kolkata(sutanuti) is the abode of idol creators.It is also the best hub of artistry, culture, music. This is considered the oldest precints of Kolkata, almost about 300 years old. The word “Kumartuli” itself defines its meaning “Kumar=Potters” and “Tuli=locality”.Initially, it was formed by few potters who came to this locality in quest of a better livelihood. The beauty of this place lies in its erratic alleys which are filled with people all the time.

You may also be astonished by watching how the mud sculptors work in their conjusted studio with no fans, no AC, no proper setup arrangements. They were born skilled because none of them hasnot attended any art school but still they work as experts. As for their tools and materials, they have straws, clay, ropes, bamboo sticks and most essentially two well-skilled hands which can transform a mound of clay into a beautiful idol of any goddess.

Facts about the place

It is believed that the first potter or commonly known as “Kumar” was brought from Krishna Nagar at Nadia district of West Bengal by Raja Naba Krishna Dev of sovabazar to make idols. The first Durga puja was held in 1993 from then this place has the making of clay idols for the worshipped purpose.

The soil which is used to make the idols comes from the river Hooghly and they are mixed with a handful of soils from the doorstep of a prostitute along with her blessings which soil is known as “vaishya mati “. It was made as a ritual to involve all members of the society in the puja. till now not a single Durga idol is built without that soil. There are different styles to decorate the idols . some of the popular forms are- Bangla, Art bangle, Dhakershaj – where the idols are decorated with pieces of jewellery made out of white shola or Indian cork. this place has got its global recognition for its amazing artistic creation.