Kumartuli
‘You
are weeks too early,’ they said
‘If
you still want to see God,
Go
to Kumartuli.’
And
so I went
To
the mortal birthplace
Of
the Heavenly Gods
Embryonic,
there they were
Emerging
from clay,
Waiting
to grasp their multi-armed blades,
To
be draped in silk
To
be painted with autumn’s gold
To
open their eyes, waking anew
From
their annual sleep
Breaking
with the rhythm
Of
Dhak and Dhol
To
smell the incense and the Chatim
To
hear Bhadra’s baritone all over again
For
a few days – earth turns divine again
But
there was another
Category
of deity,
Who
no one worshipped -
The
old frail God-makers
Breathing
life through sleepless nights
That
the city might wake anew
With
every brushstroke, a big bang
Every
idol an unknown cosmos –
The
god-makers trading heaven
For
a few hundred rupees
The
price for staying on earth
And
creating heaven right in our midst…
Kumartuli,
located along the banks of the Hooghly in North Kolkata, is a historic
neighborhood renowned for its centuries-old tradition of crafting clay idols.
Famed for its skilled artisans and innovative designs, the area produces some
of the finest deity idols in India. It is a must-visit destination for art
enthusiasts and photographers, especially in the months leading up to Durga
Puja, when the vibrant creative energy of the community comes alive.
14th
May 2026
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