Kumortuli

Durga Puja comes to an end. Most of these idols have been created by idol makers, locally referred to as kumors. In what is a famous locality of Kolkata, the lanes of Kumortuli comes to life in the months preceding the Durga Puja (mainly August and September). If you want to experience a completely different Kolkata and want to interact with real artisans, take a walk in the narrow alleys of Kumortuli. The history of Kumortuli dates back to the 17th century when potters from Krishnanagar came to Kolkata, a prosperous town on the banks of Hooghly in search of a better livelihood, to make a living by making clay items for household purposes. Admire the artisans as they put the final touches on the clay idols of Goddess Durga and her four children— Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganesh and Karthikeya even as they work tirelessly, oblivious to the impact of their creations on people around them. Strike a conversation with the idol makers and get an insight into their daily lives, their way of working. The area can be reached easily from the Sovabazaar Metro Station.