Hidden inside north Kolkata, Kumartuli, or potter’s abode is now one of the busiest places in West Bengal. In the maze of lanes and by-lanes, one can find deft hands molding clays to give shape to various divine forms. Once you enter Kumartuli, rows of idols covered with plastic will amaze your eyes.
Suchandrima Pal, a woman potter told News18, “Business is better than Covid times but incessant rains have kept us in apprehension. Buyers are not regular. I hope before Durga ma (mother) arrives, weather blooms. Ma has already reached various pandals.”
With the onset of Devi Paksha, potters in West Bengal will be occupied in making and selling the divine idols. Craftsmen in Kumartuli have observed that there is an influx of vloggers, Youtubers and college students. This inflow of visitors have made the narrow roads crowded.
A young college student, Raina Roy, along with her friends strolled the shops to see pandals of Goddess Durga. Speaking to News18 she said, “It is our biggest festival so we don’t wait for Shashti Tithi. Rather observing potters giving a final touch to our deity is a different feeling.” Not only Roy and her friends, but people across West Bengal have started to visit pandals.
“Things have changed now, visiting Kumartuli is a thing,” says a vlogger. People from India and world visit Kumartuli especially during Durga Puja. After receiving UNESCO heritage tag, tourist footfall have seen a sharp rise.
News18 met Robert who came from New York to visit the pandals of Durga ma, he said, “It’s a mesmerising religion. Culture is an important part of India and this Kumartuli is awesome. I am really looking forward to this Durga Puja.”
Kumartuli is also a part of heritage, believe people of Bengal. Here craftsmen painstakingly work throughout the year to make idols. Bidyut Pal, a young potter told News18, “We work till 2 pm and again from 4 am we continue to craft idols from clay, this is our livelihood and we enjoy too.”
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