For most Bengalis, Durga Puja begins with Mahalaya, the sound of Mahishasuramardini on the radio. But in Kolkata, the festival starts much earlier in the winding lanes of Kumartuli, where artisans spend months giving shape to Maa Durga. Long before the goddess reaches pandals across the city, she is born here through clay, straw, bamboo and generations of craftsmanship.
Located in North Kolkata, Kumartuli is nearly 300 years old and is considered the heart of Bengal’s idol-making tradition. Every year, hundreds of sculptors work in small workshops to create thousands of idols of Maa Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesha for Pujas across India and in many countries abroad.
A tradition that has survived for centuries
The name Kumartuli comes from the Bengali words Kumar (potter) and Tuli (locality). The neighbourhood was established in the early 18th century when potter families settled in the area and began making clay idols. Over time, the place grew into Kolkata’s most famous artisan hub, with skills passed down from one generation to other generations.
Today, idols of Devi Durga made in Kumartuli are transported not only across West Bengal but also to cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, as well as countries including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, wherever Bengali communities celebrate Durga Puja.
How Maa Durga takes shape
The making of a Durga idol still follows a traditional gateway that has been followed over the decades. It begins with a bamboo framework that forms the structure of the idol. Straw is tied around it to create the body, followed by layers of clay collected from riverbanks. Once the clay dries, artisans sculpt the face, hands and finer details with remarkable precision.
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After the sculpture is complete, the idol is painted and decorated with clothes, ornaments and weapons. One of the most significant tradition of all is Chokkhu Daan, the ritual of painting Maa Durga’s eyes, which traditionally takes place around Mahalaya and is seen as giving life to the idol.
The busiest weeks before Durga Puja
The weeks before Durga Puja are the busiest time in Kumartuli. Workshops remain open from early morning until late at night as artisans rush to complete orders before the festival begins. Despite challenges such as heavy rainfall, rising raw material costs and labour shortages this year, work continues at full pace to ensure idols reach pandals on time.
Kumartuli is more than a place where idols are made. It is a living reminder of Kolkata’s artistic heritage and one of the first places where the spirit of Durga Puja comes alive each year.
This is the place where Ma Durga comes alive first and later into tha pandals.