Kolkata is a heritage city when it comes to maintaining the tradition and culture. And if there can be a location that is still keeping up with the tradition of maintaining the art and culture it is Kumartuli Kolkata. Kumartuli or the Potter’s Colony is one of the most interesting locations that one can visit in the city. Majorly famous for the Durga idol making, this location is one of the aesthetic locations situated amidst the narrow lanes of North Kolkata. At present the location supplies idols for puja all across Bengal and beyond. Even puja organizers from other states like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore along with organizers from other countries like UK, USA are reaching out to the artists here. Such is the power of art and artistic vigour in the city.
So if you are interested to know more about this vibrant location, then keep on reading this article on Kumartuli Kolkata.
Kumartuli Kolkata
Kumartuli Location: Hatkhola, Kolkata, West Bengal
Timings: Open all day throughout the year
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the Netaji Subhash Chandra International Airport is the nearest airport to reach Kumartuli Kolkata. From the airport the location is 13.7 km away and you can reach there in 35 minutes.
By train
If you are travelling by train the nearest railway station is the Bagbazar Railway Station. From the station the location is about 1.1 km away. It would take around 4 minutes to reach there. However if you choose to walk then you can reach there easily in about 12 minutes. The major railway station to reach here is the Howrah railway station. From Howrah station Kumartuli Kolkata is only 4.2 km away. You can reach there in about 20 minutes. Sealdah station is also another major railway station to reach here as well. The station is 5.6 km away from Kumartuli. It would take around 25 minutes to reach there from the station. You can take buses or you can take a yellow taxi or hire a car to reach there conveniently.
By road
Buses are available from across the city. The area is surrounded by locations like Jorasanko, Shyampukur, Bartala, Hooghly etc. The nearest bus stop is the Rajballavpur Bus Stop and from there it is only 5 minutes away.
By metro
If you are travelling in a metro then the Sovabazar metro station is the nearest metro station. From there Kumartuli is located at a distance of 1 km. You can easily walk up to Kumartuli from there in about 12 minutes.
By ferry
From Howrah ferry services are also available that you can opt to reach here. You can cross the river by a ferry to reach the Shobhabazar Ahiritola Ferry Ghat or the Bagbazar Ferry Ghat. From both the locations Kumartuli is only a few minutes away.
Overview of Kumartuli
As the name suggests this location in Kolkata is specifically a locality belonging to the potters. Originally known as Coomaartolly or Kumortuli, Kumartuli Kolkata is one of the unique destinations in the city. Moreover a location like Kumartuli is still the quintessential flag bearer of the art and culture of the city. As we all know the Durga Puja is the prime festival for the Bengalis, the festival is a grand affair in the city. That is the time when the potter’s colony bustles with all the actions. This location is especially renowned for the idols of Maa Durga. Made out of clay, several artists work here day in and day out to construct some of the best Durga idols. Kumartuli Durga pratima is also famous not just in Bengal but even outside.
Located in North Kolkata this is one of a kind of a zone which bustles with artists during the time of Durga Puja. However not just Durga Puja, even during festivals like Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja and Jagadhatri Puja the people prefer getting the idols of Gods and Goddesses from this location. The artists here are experts in clay moulding and they are doing this job and passing the skills through generations. Officially the Banamali Sarkar Street is now popular for the idol makers and idol merchants. Also there is a famous temple Dhakeshwari Mata Temple here which is a popular spot to visit here as well.
History of Kumartuli
In 1757 after the great Battle of Plassey, the British got the idea to build Fort William as their new settlement. Due to this construction there was a sudden shift of population towards Sutanuti. Moreover the area of Jorasanko and its surroundings remained as the richer and posh localities of that time. According to British orders there was an allocation of workmen to different parts of the city. Each of the areas got their new names on the basis of the work done there. For example, for wine sellers the area was Suriparah, for cow hoarders it was Aheeritola, for carpenters it was Chuttarparah. Similarly the Kumartuli or Coomartolly was the locality for the potters. The word Kumar literally means Potters and Tuli translates to Locality, and therefore this location became popular as Kumartuli.
However with later developments in the city more people shifted to these localities and made this area their residence as well. But the number of artisans belonging from the original locality of potters was still much bigger in numbers. They survived and therefore they carried on their making and selling of pots. Their main occupation was to make clay pots and later they used to sell them at the bazaar. Soon they started making idols here as well and Durga Puja organizers preferred getting these idols from here.
With time the stature of Durga Puja in the city reached a different level. People started celebrating the festival with much grandeur. And with that the number of pujas also started increasing. And soon this locality got famous and people from all over Bengal and beyond started reaching out to them for the idols. At present Kumartuli is synonymous with Kumartuli Durga idol making. And the area is getting more popular with each passing day.
Evolution of Kumartuli
Previously the festival of Durga Puja was mostly confined to zamindar houses or houses of the rich people. The ancient houses and heritage buildings were popular for hosting Durga puja at their homes. With time however there was a certain commercialization added to the festival. Soon every lane and bylane started organizing Durga Puja in their localities. With the increase in the number of Durga Puja however the idol making profession also developed. Previously there were both male and female artists involved in the art of idol making. They would make the traditional idols of the Goddess with her 4 children under one Chalchitra. Later the puja organizers would come and choose the idol they like and take them back.
But with the advent of more pujas across the city the scale of idol making also witnessed a sharp growth. Now the puja organizers come here in advance to pre order the idol as per their wishes. Also with theme pujas the style of idols have also changed. Previously the most common form of Durga idol was the ones made with clay and then adorned with sparkly jewelleries. Now, full clay idols, polished idols and various other types are also visible and available.
What’s more?
Passed through generations the art of idol making also saw a spike and now there is much more creativity with the fusion idols and theme pujas. However even though the pujas are commercialized in today’s date with much grandeur the artists behind them are still highly underpaid when it comes to their dues. Usually the time before the pujas is the time of monsoon, and the artists go through a lot of struggles to first make and then dry and then complete the construction of these clay idols. But according to hard work they are not paid a lot. A lot of these artists and their families live in deplorable conditions.
Furthermore this is majorly a seasonal occupation as well. Only during the time of Durga Puja and other minor festivals, they are involved in idol making. During the rest of the year they involve them in making other decorative or show pieces made of clay. They are also highly skillful when it comes to shola work which is yet another special art form in Kolkata. Some of them also specialize in the making of accessories that the Gods and Goddesses adorn. These are works that include gota ornaments, shola pith, paper and lace work and more.
Things to do at Kumartuli
Explore the lanes and bylanes
As soon as you enter the lanes of Kumartuli you will notice how narrow they are. On each turn there are separations made using bamboo and plastic that demarcates one section from another. There are small rooms further and inside them you will notice the artists in work. In each of these sections there can be 20 to 60 idols at once. Some of them are huge going up to 10-20 feet as well. So once you are in Kumartuli Kolkata you need to explore the lanes here for sure.
Kumartuli photoshoot
Now this is something that is keeping the location in limelight. With professional and amateur photographers as well as social media influencers and content creators, photoshoots in Kumartuli Kolkata are really popular these days. The clay idols or the half done idols create an aesthetic background ideal for photoshoot. And it is a common sight to witness photographers roaming around the area to get the best shots.
However you also need to keep in mind that not all artists allow photography. So before entering you need to ask for permission there. Some of them would be nonchalant about it too while some can shoo you away. This is because a lot of time enthusiastic photographers damage the idols in a hurry and that leads to big loss for the artists. So mostly they are too careful to save their work from damage. Therefore even if you get to enter there make sure you are careful enough.
Visit the nearby Ghats
This location is also popular for the presence of Bagbazar Ghat and Sarada Devi Ghat. The ghats are also popular for immersion of idols. Also do visit the Kumartuli Ghat as well.
Wrapping Up!
A location like Kumartuli Kolkata would make you believe in the power of artistic expression. And you certainly need to explore a location like this in Kolkata. So make sure next time you head out to explore the lanes of the city, you need to make a visit to Kumartuli. Let me know if this article on Kumartuli Kolkata is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
