2. Kumartuli is a heritage place in North Kolkata known for its artists and artisans who create the amazing creations of Durga Idols. These idols have found its place not only in Kolkata but across various cities in India and the world. Here is an artist in Kumartuli busy with his creation.
3. Mahalaya is gone, the artists are busy giving the finishing touches in the Idols. There have been threats from monsoons and rains; but our Kumartuli artists still manage to deliver year after year
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8. Hundreds of Clubs gather to take the idols to their clubs. Carrying these idols safely and getting it delivered to the clubs is itself a profession at Kumartuli. One such scene where these carriers are carefully taking an idol from the studio. All the clubs hire a vehicle (usually trucks or matadors) where they bring the idol of Maa Durga to their club. Kumartuli is a quite congested area. From the day of Mahalaya till Tritiya, the area is mostly choked with queue of trucks waiting for their turn to take the idol.
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12. Time to carry Maa Durga to pandal premises. Celebration 2007 begins….
13. Roaming across the latitude and longitude of Kolkata, this is my capture of top 80 in the city, Hope you will enjoy. My pick of TOP 80
44. Saotal village (“tribal village”) is the theme this year. Idol also has a tribal look Bakulbagan
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50. “ Heaven of Glass” – the club has used many forms of glass for its pandal 64 Pally
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53. “ Mahashakti” is the theme of Badamtala, the entire set is built using intricate iron drum cuttings and galvanized iron cuttings Badamtala Asar Sangha
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59. Coral Shells and intricate design on them blended with canes and wood brought a new touch to this pandal 66 Pally
71. Rabindranath Tagore’s “Sahaj Path” comes alive at Sahapur Sarbojonin. Durga is teaching Ganesha the alphabets!! Sahapur Sarbojonin
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74. Bhabatosh Sutar has used ceramics to create the pandal and idol. This club experimented with a new material form that hardly any club has tried so far Barisha Club
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81. What you will see now is not original, Nutan Dal has created a forest village and Durga worship in the forest. The project started last February!! Behala Nutan Dal
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92. “ Belan & Chaki” – with which we make Roti at home has been used to make this pandal. In my personal ranking this will be NO.1 in Kolkata Adarsha Pally