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An artisan in a checked shirt looks up at unpainted clay idols in a Kumartuli workshop

Kumartuli, Kolkata

Clay from the Ganga. Three generations of hands.

We make Durga, Saraswati, Kali and Lakshmi pratimas for family pujos, club pandals and Bengali associations abroad. Every idol starts as bamboo and straw in this lane, and leaves with her eyes painted by the same family that painted your grandfather's.

Book for this Pujo See order dates
1952Studio founded by Nabakumar Pal
60+idols made every Durga Puja
14countries shipped to since 2008
₹1,500Saraswati pratimas start here
Unpainted Durga idols with lions and demons crowd a bamboo-roofed workshop
A freshly moulded clay face of the goddess resting on a cloth ring

The studio

A workshop in the lane where idols have been made for 300 years

Nabakumar Pal came to Kumartuli from Krishnanagar in 1952 with one helper and a rented shed. His son Gopal built the studio's name in the club pujos of north Kolkata. Today his grandsons Sujit and Ranjit run it with twelve artisans, most of whom have been here over fifteen years.

We still use Ganga clay, rice straw and bamboo. We still paint the eyes on Mahalaya morning. What has changed is the ledger: orders now come by WhatsApp, and crates leave for Toronto and Dubai in July.

  • 3rdgeneration at work
  • 12artisans in the studio
  • 1,800+idols made since 1952

What we make

Idols for the home, the club and the pandal

Prices below are for standard clay idols with basic sholar saaj (pith decoration). Daker saaj, zari work and custom themes are quoted separately. Half the amount is paid at booking, the rest on delivery.

  • Close-up of a painted Durga face with yellow skin, three eyes and a green sari

    Durga, family pujo

    Ek-chala, 5 to 7 ft, with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Ganesh

    The traditional single-frame set for barir pujo. Classic Bengali face, sholar saaj, delivered to your thakur dalan by Panchami.

    From ₹38,000book by June
  • A tall unpainted Durga with her family and lion, set against a wooden arch

    Durga, club and barowari

    Panch-chala or theme, 9 to 14 ft

    For pandals. We work with your theme artist or design the set ourselves. Fibreglass option for rain-prone open pandals.

    From ₹1,40,000book by April
  • A grey clay Saraswati seated with a veena, before painting, with a carved arch behind

    Saraswati

    1.5 to 6 ft, for homes, schools and clubs

    Our busiest month is January. Schools get a flat rate for standard 3 ft idols ordered before Poush Sankranti.

    From ₹1,500book by December
  • Rows of small painted Kali idols with garlands of heads lined up on a shelf

    Kali

    2 to 10 ft, Shyama and Dakshina Kali forms

    For Kali Puja and Diwali. Small household idols are kept in stock from October. Large ones need two months' notice.

    From ₹2,500book by August for large
  • Three unpainted clay faces of the goddess drying side by side

    Lakshmi, Ganesh, Viswakarma, Jagaddhatri

    1 to 6 ft

    Seasonal idols for Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, Viswakarma Puja in factories and the Jagaddhatri pujos of Chandannagar.

    From ₹1,200book 3 weeks ahead
  • Two young artisans carry a small unfinished Ganesh idol down the Kumartuli lane

    Fibreglass idols for abroad

    3 to 8 ft, reusable for 10 or more years

    Light, weather-proof and crated for sea or air freight. Many associations use the same idol every year and have us repaint it.

    From ₹2,20,000plus freight; book by February

How it is made

From bamboo and straw to chokkhu daan

A 10 ft Durga takes about three months. Here is what happens in that time, in the order it happens.

  1. 1

    Kathamo Bamboo frame

    A bamboo skeleton is tied with jute rope on a wooden base. The proportions of the whole idol are fixed here, so this is the senior artisan's job.

  2. 2

    Khor bandha Straw body

    Rice straw is bound tightly over the frame to give the figure its bulk. It is light, cheap and lets the clay grip.

  3. 3

    Ek-mete First clay coat

    Coarse Ganga clay mixed with rice husk goes on thick. It dries for a week or two depending on the rain.

  4. 4

    Do-mete Fine clay coat

    A smoother clay with jute fibre is applied and the surface is worked by hand. Cracks are filled; fingers, folds and faces take shape.

  5. 5

    Mukh The face

    Faces are cast from the studio's own moulds, then finished by hand. Each family of artisans has its own face; ours is known for a slightly longer eye.

  6. 6

    Rong Painting

    A white chalk base, then the skin colour, then the detail work. We use water-based paints that wash off in immersion.

  7. 7

    Saaj Dressing and ornaments

    Sari, crown, weapons and the sholar or daker saaj go on. The lion gets his mane. This is the week the lane fills with visitors.

  8. 8

    Chokkhu daan Painting the eyes

    Done last, traditionally on Mahalaya, by the head of the family. The idol is considered awake from this moment and is handled with care until delivery.

An artisan's muddy hands shape the eyelid of a clay face with a bamboo tool
An artisan paints the eye of a dressed idol with a fine brush
An artisan in red glasses paints the eyebrow of a white Saraswati idol

Pujo order calendar

When to book, so your idol is ready in time

Festival dates move with the lunar calendar; the months below are the usual window. The "book by" date is when we stop taking new orders for that size.

FestivalUsual monthBook byDelivery
Saraswati PujaLate January to February15 DecemberDay before Panchami
Annapurna and Basanti PujaMarch to April1 FebruaryTwo days before
Ganesh ChaturthiAugust to September15 JulyDay before
Viswakarma Puja17 or 18 September20 August16 September
Durga Puja, familySeptember to October30 JunePanchami
Durga Puja, club and themeSeptember to October30 AprilChaturthi
Kojagari Lakshmi PujaOctober1 SeptemberDay before
Kali PujaOctober to November15 August (large), 1 October (small)Day before
Jagaddhatri PujaNovember1 SeptemberTwo days before
Overseas pujos (any festival)Ships June to August28 FebruaryPort or airport of your choice

Late orders are sometimes possible for small idols. Message us with the size and date and we will tell you honestly whether it can be done.

Shipping abroad

Pujo in Toronto, London or Dubai, with an idol from this lane

Since 2008 we have shipped to Bengali associations in 14 countries. The idol is made in fibreglass or a light clay-and-fibre mix, packed in a wooden crate with foam, and handed to a freight agent we have worked with for years.

  • One point of contactSujit handles overseas orders himself, on WhatsApp, in Bengali or English. Photos at every stage.
  • Crating and paperworkExport-grade crate, fumigation certificate, invoice and packing list. Your freight agent or ours.
  • Sea or airSea freight takes 6 to 10 weeks and costs less. Air takes a week. We advise on which once we know your date.
  • Repaint serviceSend photos after the pujo and we send touch-up paint and instructions, or repaint the idol on your next visit to Kolkata.
Ask about an overseas order
A lit Durga Puja pandal at night with a thatched tower and painted walls

From the order book

What our clients say

Our club has taken a Durga from the Pals since my father was secretary. In 2023 the theme artist changed the design twice in August and Ranjit-da still delivered on Chaturthi.

Arunava · Bagbazar club secretary

The fibreglass Durga we ordered in 2019 is still in use in Mississauga. Sujit sent us photos every fortnight while it was being made, and the crate arrived without a scratch.

Mitali · Bengali association, Canada

Visit the studio

Come and see her before she is painted

Clients are welcome to visit during work hours. August and September are crowded; mornings are quieter. Please message before coming so someone is free to show you around.

Address41 Banamali Sarkar Street, Kumartuli
Kolkata 700005, West Bengal
Third shed on the left from the Rabindra Sarani end. Sovabazar metro is a 10-minute walk.
Work hoursEvery day, 8 am to 7 pm
Closed on Bijoya Dashami and the day after
Phone and WhatsApp+91 98042 43159
Get directions Call

Book early

Tell us the festival, the size and the date

We will reply within a day with a price, a drawing if needed, and an honest answer on whether the date can be met.

WhatsApp the studio Call +91 98042 43159