Kumortuli

2026-04-09T09:37:03Z

82.132.237.92:

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement



|name = Kumartuli<br />কুমারটুলি
|official_name =
|other_name =
|native_name = 
|nickname =
|settlement_type = Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta) 
|total_type = 
|motto =

|image_skyline = Idol of Maa Durga at Kumortuli.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Idol of Maa Durga at Kumortuli
|image_flag =
|flag_size =
|image_seal =
|seal_size =
|image_shield =
|shield_size =
|image_blank_emblem =
|blank_emblem_type =
|blank_emblem_size =
|image_map =
|mapsize =
|map_caption =
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|image_dot_map =
|dot_mapsize =
|dot_map_caption =
|dot_x = |dot_y =
|pushpin_map = India Kolkata
|pushpin_label_position =
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kolkata
|pushpin_mapsize =

|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{IND}}
|subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[West Bengal]]
|subdivision_type2 = City
|subdivision_name2 = [[Kolkata]]
|subdivision_type3 = [[List of districts of West Bengal|District]]
|subdivision_name3 = [[Kolkata district|Kolkata]]
|subdivision_type4 = [[Kolkata Metro|Metro Station]]
|subdivision_name4 = [[Sovabazar Sutanuti metro station|Sovabazar Sutanuti]]

|seat_type = [[Municipal Corporation]]
|seat = [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]]
|parts_type = [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation|KMC]] ward
|parts_style = 
|parts = [[Ward No. 9, Kolkata Municipal Corporation|9]]
|p1 =
|p2 = 

|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 = 
|leader_name1 =
|established_title = 
|established_date =

|area_magnitude =
|unit_pref =Imperial
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 = 
|area_land_km2 = 
|area_water_km2 =
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|area_water_percent =

|elevation_footnotes = 
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft =36
|elevation_max_m =
|elevation_max_ft =
|elevation_min_m =
|elevation_min_ft =

|population_as_of =
|population_footnotes =
|population_note =
|population_total =
|population_density_km2 = 
|population_density_sq_mi =

|timezone = IST
|utc_offset = +5:30
|timezone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|coor_type = 
|coordinates = {{coord|22.6000|N|88.3614|E|region:IN-{{IndAbbr|[[West Bengal]]}}|display=inline,title}}

|postal_code_type = PIN
|postal_code = 700005
|area_code = +91 33
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Kolkata Uttar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kolkata Uttar]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Shyampukur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Shyampukur]]
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
'''Kumortuli''' (''Coo-more-tool-e'') ('''Kumartuli''' is a widely used misspelling and mispronunciation) is a traditional [[Pottery|potters]]' quarter in [[North Kolkata]] in [[West Bengal]], [[India]]. The city is renowned for its sculpting prowess. It not only manufactures clay idols for various festivals but also regularly exports them.

==History==

The British colonisation of Bengal and India started following the victory of the [[British East India Company]] in the [[Battle of Plassey]] in 1757. The company decided to build new settlement [[Fort William, India|Fort William]] at the site of the [[Gobindapur, Kolkata|Gobindapur]] village. Most of the existing population shifted to [[Sutanuti]]. While such neighbourhoods as [[Jorasanko]] and [[Pathuriaghata]] became the centres of the local rich; there were other areas that were developed simultaneously.<ref>[[H.E.A.Cotton|Cotton, H.E.A.]], ''Calcutta Old and New'', 1909/1980, p. 72, General Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd.</ref> The villages of Gobindapur, Sutanuti and [[Kalikata]] developed to give rise to the latter day metropolis of Calcutta.

[[John Zephaniah Holwell|Holwell]], under orders from the directors of the [[British East India Company]], allotted "separate districts to the Company’s workmen". These neighbourhoods in the heart of the Indian quarters acquired the work-related names – Suriparah (the place of wine sellers), Collotollah (the place of oil men), Chuttarparah (the place of carpenters), Aheeritollah (cowherd's quarters), Coomartolly (potters' quarters) and so on.<ref>Cotton, H.E.A., pp. 282-3</ref>

Most of the artisans living in the [[North Kolkata]] neighbourhoods dwindled in numbers or even vanished, as they were pushed out of the area in the late nineteenth century by the invasion from [[Burrabazar]].<ref>Bhattacharya, Sabyasachi, ''Traders and Trades in Old Calcutta'', P.207, in ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol I, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, pp 58-59, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0-19-563696-1}}</ref> In addition, [[Marwaris|Marwari]] businessmen virtually flushed out others from many [[North Kolkata]] localities. The potters of Kumortuli, who fashioned the clay from the river beside their home into pots to be sold at Sutanuti Bazar (later Burrabazar), managed to survive in the area. Gradually they took to making the images of gods and goddesses, worshipped in large numbers in the mansions all around and later at community pujas in the city and beyond.<ref>Gupta, Bunny, and Chaliha, Jaya, ''Chitpur'', in ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol I, p. 27</ref>

In 1888, one of the 25 newly organized police section houses was located in Kumartuli.<ref>Nair, P.Thankappan, ''The Growth and Development of Old Calcutta'', in ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol. I, pp. 18-19, Edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, Oxford University Press, 1995 edition.</ref>

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map 
| coord = {{coord|22.6000|88.3614}} 
| zoom = 15 
| label = Kumortuli
| mark-coord = {{coord|22.6000|88.3614}}
| label-pos = right
| float = left
}}

Kumortuli is located in Ward No. 8 of [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]], mostly between Rabindra Sarani (formerly Chitpur Road) and the [[Hooghly River]]. It is between Beniatola (Ahiritola) and [[Shobhabazar]].<ref>Map nos. 6 and 12, Detail Maps of 141 Wards of Kolkata, D.R.Publication and Sales Concern, 66 College Street, Kolkata – 700073</ref> In maps showing ''thanas'' or police stations in old Kolkata, Kumortuli is shown as being between [[Shyampukur]], Bartala, [[Jorasanko]], [[Jorabagan]] and [[Hooghly River]].<ref>Map on p. 16, ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol I.</ref>

==Culture==
===Dhakeswari Mata Temple===
[[File:Dhakeswari Mata Idol.jpg|thumb|Dhakeswari Mata Idol at Kumortuli]]

Dhakeswari Mata Temple is a [[Hindu]] temple located in Kumortuli, near [[Shobhabazar|Sovabazar]], [[Kolkata]]. It is situated on the eastern bank of the [[Hooghly River]] near Kumartolly. The presiding deity of the temple is [[Durga|Devi Durga]], which was taken to Kolkata in 1947 from [[Dhakeshwari Temple|Dhakeswari Temple]] in Dhaka, Bangladesh.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/calcutta/kolkatar-karcha-1.680135|title=কলকাতার কড়চা|work=Anandabazar Patrika|access-date=2018-10-03|language=bn|archive-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126172128/https://www.anandabazar.com/calcutta/kolkatar-karcha-1.680135|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/roving/800806/bangladeshs-most-important-hindu-temple-has-been-witness-to-a-tumultuous-past|title=Bangladesh's most important Hindu temple has been witness to a tumultuous past|last=Daniyal|first=Shoaib|work=Scroll.in|access-date=2018-10-03|language=en-US|archive-date=30 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430060556/http://scroll.in/roving/800806/bangladeshs-most-important-hindu-temple-has-been-witness-to-a-tumultuous-past|url-status=live}}</ref>

The idol is 1.5 feet tall and has ten arms, which are mounted on a mythical lion in the form of Katyani Mahishasurmardini Durga. On her two sides are [[Lakshmi|Laxmi]], [[Saraswati]], [[Kartikeya|Kartik]] and [[Ganesha|Ganesh]].<ref name=":0" /> The origins of the [[Dhakeshwari Temple|main]] temple remain mysterious, hence many rumors preside. One rumor suggests that the wife of King [[Vijaya Sena|Bijoy Sen]] once went to the village of Langolbond to bathe. On her way back she gave birth to a son, [[Ballala Sena|Ballal Sen]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/heritage/temple-and-city-1212340|title=Temple and a City|date=2016-04-22|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2018-10-03|language=en|archive-date=5 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005092510/https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/heritage/temple-and-city-1212340|url-status=live}}</ref> Later this prince became king of the [[Sena dynasty]]. After ascending to the throne, Ballal Sen built a temple to glorify his birthplace, which is known as [[Dhakeshwari Temple|Dhakeswari temple]], [[Bangladesh]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/millenniumold-hindu-temple-discovered-in-bangladesh/article7214207.ece|title=Millennium-old Hindu temple discovered in Bangladesh|date=2015-05-16|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-10-03|agency=PTI|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=13 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513134311/http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/millenniumold-hindu-temple-discovered-in-bangladesh/article7214207.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ballal Sen proceeded to have vivid dreams, one of which involved the deity [[Durga]]. He dreamt that Durga was hidden within the jungle; he proceeded to discover the said deity which was concealed there. In order to celebrate this discovery, he built a temple later named ''Dhakeswari''. This explains the etymological meaning of "Dhakeswari", which means "covered or hidden deity". According to [[Bengali Hindus]] Dhakeswari is considered to be the presiding deity of [[Dhaka]], which is an incarnation or form of Goddess Durga, the [[Shakti|Adi Shakti]]. The idol of Durga is called Dhakeswari.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://adarbepari.com/dhakeshwari-temple-dhaka|title=ঢাকেশ্বরী মন্দির, ঢাকা - আদার ব্যাপারী|date=2016-09-28|work=আদার ব্যাপারী|access-date=2018-10-03|language=en-US|archive-date=8 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608013039/http://adarbepari.com/dhakeshwari-temple-dhaka|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Location map|India Kolkata| lat=22.6|long=88.36| width=150|caption= Location in Kolkata|label=Dhakeswari Mata Temple}}
In 1947, during the [[Partition of India]], caretakers of the temple evacuated the idol from Dhaka to Calcutta, and it has remained there since.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bn.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80_%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0|title=ঢাকেশ্বরী মন্দির - বাংলাপিডিয়া|website=bn.banglapedia.org|language=bn|access-date=2018-10-03|archive-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417213602/http://bn.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80_%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dhakeshwari Temple, Dhaka |url=https://sacredsites.com/asia/bangladesh/dhakeshwari_temple_dhaka.html |website=Places of Peace and Power |access-date=3 November 2018 |archive-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010355/https://sacredsites.com/asia/bangladesh/dhakeshwari_temple_dhaka.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After this, a Tiwari family from Azamgarh was appointed by the royal family to undertake daily worship of the deity. In 1946, the descendants of that family, Prallad Kishore Tiwari (or Rajendra Kishore Tiwari) transported the idol in a highly confidential aircraft to Kolkata and was re-appointed, where they still serve the goddess continuously. After taken to Kolkata, the idol spent the next two or three years being worshipped in the Debendranath Chowdhury home.<ref name=":0" />

In 1950 the businessman Debendranath Chowdhary built the temple of the goddess in the Kumortuli area and established some of the goddess' property for her daily services.<ref name=":0" />

The Dhakeshwari devi worship is different from the traditional Durga puja of Bengal. According to the current priest of the temple, Shaktiprasad Ghosal, during Durga Puja, the goddess is worshipped in accordance with the Navratri or nine night rituals of Northern India.<ref name=":0" />

==Notable residents==
Being close to the heart of Kolkata, Kumortuli was home to a number of renowned or famous people during the [[Bengal Renaissance]].

There is a road in Kumortuli named after Nandram Sen, a wealthy former resident. His wealth was accrued because of his status as the first tax collector of Kolkata, during the 1700s.<ref>Cotton, H.E.A., p. 291</ref> [[Gobindram Mitter]], the tax collector after Nandram, lived in a large mansion on a sprawling 16-acre property during this time. His house is now known as one of the "Great Houses of Old Calcutta".<ref>Deb, Chitra, ''The Great Houses of Old Calcutta'' in ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol I.</ref>

[[Legendary personalities in Bengal#Banamali Sarkar|Banamali Sarkar's]] famous house which is immortalized in Bengali rhyming proverb, was there till the 19th century. He has a winding lane named after him in Kumortuli.<ref>Cotton, H.E.A., pp. 297-8</ref>

==Transport==
Rabindra Sarani passes through Kumortuli.<ref>Google maps</ref>

===Bus===
* 43 [[Esplanade, Kolkata|Esplanade]] - [[Dakshineswar]]

===Train===
[[Sovabazar Ahiritola railway station]] and [[Bagbazar railway station]] on [[Kolkata Circular Railway]] line are the nearest stations. [[Kolkata Station]], which is one of the five major railway-terminals of [[Kolkata Metropolitan Area]], is also located nearby.

===Metro===
Nearest metro station is [[Sovabazar Sutanuti metro station]] and through metro, it can be easily accessed the areas of [[Dakshineswar]] and [[New Garia]] ([[Kavi Subhash metro station]]).

==Gallery==
<gallery>
image:Kumortuli1.jpg|[[Durga]] clay idols under preparation
image:Kumortuli3.jpg|[[Ganesha]] clay idols under preparation
image: Kumortuli4.jpg|A general view of [[Banamali Sarkar Street]]
image: Kumortuli2.jpg|Some finished mini idols of [[Lakshmi|Devi lakshmi]], [[Ganesha]], [[Jagannath]], [[Balarama]] and [[Subhadra]] are on sale at Kumortuli
image: Idol making at Kumortuli17.jpg|Idol making of [[Durga|Devi Durga]] at Kumortuli
image:Devi Durga ready to Paint.jpg|Face of [[Durga|Devi Durga]] ready for painting
image: Idol making at Kumortuli, Kolkata4.jpg|The workshop at Kumortuli before Puja
image: Idol making at Kumortuli13.jpg|Idol of [[Durga|Devi Durga]] under preparation
image:Idol making at Kumortuli4.jpg|Idols of [[Kali|Devi Kali]] under preparation
image:Making of Kali idols, Kumortuli, 2017.jpg|Half finished Goddess Kali idol
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[North Kolkata]]
* [[Shobhabazar]]
* [[Shobhabazar Rajbari]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{commons category|Kumortuli}}

{{Kolkata neighbourhoods}}
{{Craft centres in West Bengal}}

[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Durga Puja]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kolkata]]

IndianPedia - User contributions [en]

Kumortuli