Kumartuli — the potters' quarter of North Kolkata

Short answer. Kumartuli (spelled Kumortuli on Wikipedia, and Coomartolly in colonial records) is the North Kolkata neighbourhood where clay idols are made, above all the Durga idols for Durga Puja. It lies in Kolkata Municipal Corporation ward 9, between Rabindra Sarani and the Hooghly River, next to Beniatola and Shobhabazar. Its PIN code is 700005.

Why it exists

After 1757 the East India Company's officer Holwell allotted separate districts to the Company's workmen, creating trade-based quarters; Kumartuli was the potters' quarter. As commercial pressure grew in the late 19th century, the potters moved from everyday pottery to crafting religious idols, which is the trade the area is known for. It also exports idols.

Durga Puja

The article says the area makes clay idols for various festivals, above all Durga Puja. One notable site is the Dhakeswari Mata Temple, which houses a small Durga idol (about 1.5 feet) brought from Dhaka in 1947 at Partition; the temple was established in Kumartuli in 1950 by businessman Debendranath Chowdhary.

Getting there

• Metro: Sovabazar Sutanuti.
• Suburban rail: Sovabazar Ahiritola and Bagbazar stations on the Kolkata Circular Railway.
• Bus: route 43 (Esplanade–Dakshineswar).

Nearby: Bagbazar, Shobhabazar and Beniatola.

Sources

Compiled on 19 September 2026 from Wikipedia's article on Kumortuli. Statements are attributed to it; where it gives one source's figure, this page says so. Back to Kolkata and its Durga Puja and festival life.