Field Trip on 21Jan2026 Organised by Dept of Film Studies
Stories in Clay : A photowalk through Kumortuli
On 21st January 2026, the department of Film Studies at Loreto College
organised a photo walk in Kumortuli, the birthplace of several clay idols and
figurines in Bengal, for the students of Minor Semester 1.
The visit to the artisans' quarter was an enriching experience for the students. This
experience gave them an opportunity to beautifully frame the awe inspiring
process of making clay idols, and capture the hard-work that goes behind it. The
visit being just a few days prior to the festival of Saraswati puja, observed the
various stages of idol-making. From some artisans adding just the finishing
touches to the idol to some kneading the clay with which the idols will be made, to
some painting the final stroke of Maa Saraswati's eyes and some idols being ready
to be shipped to their destinations, the bustling and busy environment of Kumortuli
was a joy to witness. The success of the photowalk is reflected in the beautiful
frames and scenes that were captured by the students, not just of the artisans, but
also of the everyday mundane lives of the people at Kumortuli. One of the artisans,
respected Mr. Samir Pal, agreed to a short interview upon special request. The
conversation with him reflected upon the work of artisans, the types of idols that
they make and how idol making has been an hereditary occupation for his family.
While continuing to paint an idol of goddess Saraswati, Mr. Pal proceeded to talk
about what impact technology has had on his line of work.
The photowalk was a great experience where the students not only got to learn
how to capture stories through photography and videography, but also got to
observe a creative space through a different lens.
This field trip has helped the students to understand the cultural and socio
economic significance of Kumortuli. As part of their learning outcome, the students
are going to prepare a short documentary based on the experiential learning from
this field trip.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
