Popular religion has flourished in urban India. Orissa's largest cities have exploded with street festivals involving large numbers of temporary clay images. These popular extravaganzas are also found extensively in West Bengal and other parts of eastern India. Traditionally, image makers in Orissa have been Kumbharas, but caste affiliation is not very strict. In urban areas, such as Cuttack, image makers live in their own neighborhoods, a tradition consistent with the old craft guild pattern of settlement found throughout India. The image makers of Cuttack follow local traditions which are not documented in the classical sastras. The creation of a popular street image involves a whole family of image makers and numerous outside hired assistants. The piety associated with the occupation, which was experienced by the parents of the image makers, is simply impossible to reproduce in the context of the flurry of activity surrounding the creation of popular street images.