PICTURES: Artists preparing idols for Durga Puja and Mahalaya

Kolkata: Come Mahalaya and the whole country gears up to celebrate the Bengali festival Durga Pooja which is all set to commence from October 7 this year.

An auspicious occasion, Mahalaya, observed seven days before the Durga Pooja that heralds the advent of Durga, the goddess of supreme power is a kind of invitation to the mother godess to descend on Earth. It is known as Jago Tumi Jago among the Bengalis. The prayers are done through the chanting of Sholkas and Mantras and singing devotional songs.

As the Hindus across the world get prepared for the celebrations newstrack.com brings you some photographs from the hub of Kolkata where the idols are made—Kamartulli.

Kamartulli or Kamortuli is a traditionally potters’ quarter in northern Kolkata, the capital of the east Indian state of West Begal.This place not only supplies clay idols of Hindu gods and goddesses for pujas in Kolkata and its neighbourhoods, but a number of idols are exported.

Everyday many tourists and photographers visit the place to capture artists making sculptures through their lens.

The artists of the hub in recent years have also tried to adopt eco-friendly measures while making the idols.