Delhi’s Kumartuli: Where Bengali artisans create Durga idols

Inside a dimly lit tent, Khitol Rajbongshi was busy applying a fresh layer of clay on the idols of the goddess Durga. Hailing from Nadia district in West Bengal, Rajbongshi’s address for three months is the makeshift tent erected in Kali Mandir in South Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park.

“We are neck deep in work. Hardly a few days left for Durga Puja to begin. We need to complete our work by Panchami (September 25),” Rajbongshi, 57, said.

Every year, some 1,500 km from Kolkata, a replica comes up of Kumartuli (the hub in the eastern metropolis where Durga idols are made) and artisans and craftsmen are flown in from West Bengal to create the idols for Durga Puja — the most anticipated festival for Bengalis.

These artisans recreate the charisma of goddess Durga every year for New Delhi’s huge Bengali population. They make idols of different sizes and shapes, from ‘ek-chala-thakur’ (all idols on one platform) to the large traditional ones, or the trending theme-based idols.

“Making of the goddess is not easy. It is time-consuming. It takes patience and mental strength as well as stamina. We have to deliver more than 50 orders and there is very little time left,” said artisan Montu Pal as he remained engrossed in his work.

Although specialised at making traditional idols, Madhob, another artisan, said that they have started making themed ones too, like those back in Kolkata.

“Delhi is not behind in experimenting with idols. Earlier, it used to be simple, but now we have to come up with different faces and structures of goddesses,” Madhob pointed out.

Apart from the clay which is collected from the banks of the river Yamuna, the rest of the material -- from clothes, ornaments and colours— is brought from Kolkata.

Despite facing hardships, artisans say they prefer to come to the National Capital every year

PHOTO: VIPIN KUMAR/HT The artisans bring the material from Kolkata to make the idols