Adjacent to river Jalangi is the picturesque village Ghurni in Nadia district, home to clay doll makers which are an integral part of Bengal's culture. The clay dolls, often referred as Krishnanagar clay dolls, have been adored worldwide for their impressive forms and features. The perfect detailing of forms, feature and stance, the meticulous realism of the clothes to the last fold and tuck and the marvelous expressions make each of the clay dolls a collector's item.
Ghurni is home to around 280 artisans who are into clay doll making. The doll makers mostly belong to Pal community.
Maharaja Krishnachandra (1710-1783) was a patron of arts, including literature and music, and supported the production of clay dolls. In 1728 he brought families of potters from Dhaka and Natore and settled them in Ghurni, then a village.
This pottery is very popular and in most of the international exhibitions held since 1851-in London, Paris and Boston- Krishnanagar clay dolls won medals and certificates and also great admiration from the Europeans. The exquisite craftsmanship of these artisans have earned them laurels and accolades from the British royalty like Queen Victoria as well as other important people of the British Raj and Catholic Popes in recent times.
Process of doll making starts with preparation of collected clay for modelling. At first, a moulder prepares the wet clay and processes it as it is to be desired and dump it for at least one night. Next, an artisan gives shape of a specific model with the help of moulded clay. At first a wire structure is made on which the intended doll is given shape with clay. These dolls can be fully handmade or made with the help of moulds. The moulds are made of Dental Plaster for better strength and durability.
In case of the moulding, the dolls are made of separate body parts, which are finally joined by the extended piece of wire from each of them. Finally the joints are covered with another thin layer of clay.
Government of West Bengal's Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises & Textiles, in association with UNESCO, developed Rural Craft Hub in Ghurni.
It is 3 km away from the nearest railway station Krishnanagar.
Maharaja Krishnachandra (1710-1783) was a patron of arts, including literature and music, and supported the production of clay dolls. In 1728 he brought families of potters from Dhaka and Natore and settled them in Ghurni, then a village.
This pottery is very popular and in most of the international exhibitions held since 1851-in London, Paris and Boston- Krishnanagar clay dolls won medals and certificates and also great admiration from the Europeans. The exquisite craftsmanship of these artisans have earned them laurels and accolades from the British royalty like Queen Victoria as well as other important people of the British Raj and Catholic Popes in recent times.
In case of the moulding, the dolls are made of separate body parts, which are finally joined by the extended piece of wire from each of them. Finally the joints are covered with another thin layer of clay.
Government of West Bengal's Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises & Textiles, in association with UNESCO, developed Rural Craft Hub in Ghurni.
It is 3 km away from the nearest railway station Krishnanagar.
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