Each October, Kolkata, the “metropolis of pleasure” and capital of West Bengal in India, lights as much as have a good time Durga Puja. The pageant is devoted to the Hindu goddess Durga – daughter, mom, warrior and defeater of demons.
Durga Puja is a unprecedented instance of intangible cultural heritage. It merges spiritual significance and secular messages, outdated creative practices and new creative improvements. In 2021, it was inscribed within the UNESCO Consultant Record of Intangible Cultural Heritage, that means it has been recognised as vital for all humanity.
The occasion revolves across the symbolism and mythology of the goddess Durga. In slaying the bull demon Mahishasura, she ensured the victory of fine in opposition to evil. She’s additionally a loving daughter and mom. Accompanied by her divine kids, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartik, she descends again to her earthly residence for 5 days a yr – the period of the pageant.
Though Durga Puja has spiritual origins and maintains this profound facet of its id, it has developed right into a celebration of artwork and tradition, reworking the town right into a public artwork exhibition.
Totally different conventional arts and crafts are concerned within the Durga celebrations. Primarily, the worship is centred on the creation of short-term clay idols, pratimas, representing the central scene of Durga’s story. Road installations, often known as pandals are pop-up museums deliberate round completely different themes, arts and messages. They seem in each neighbourhood of the town, making a vibrant ambiance.
Soaked in deep feelings, the Durga Puja strongly embodies the cultural id of the town of Kolkata and its numerous communities. It’s the satisfaction of individuals and neighbourhoods, and the pageant’s essence goes past spiritual perception and devotion, the festive celebrations, and its significance for livelihoods and the financial system.
The Durga Puja’s core significance is in the best way it unites communities. Folks from all backgrounds, with no distinction for faith or social courses, are integral elements of its organisation, manufacturing and celebration.
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Making the idols
Particular rituals characterise every day of the pageant day, together with the making of the goddess idol.
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An important ritual, the Chokkhu Daan, occurs on the primary day of the Mahalaya, marking the start of the goddess’ journey to earth after having defeated the demon Mahishasura. In the course of the ritual, the eyes of the Durga idol are drawn. This act has a central significance, believed to be the second the divine is infused within the statue, bringing her alive. Solely senior artisans from the idol-maker group are allowed to attract her eyes.
The idol-making apply has been handed on inside households and generations for over 200 years. Kumurtuli is the idol-making potters’ colony in north Kolkata, one of many oldest elements of the town, close to the river Hoogly, a department of the sacred river Ganges.
It’s custom that the clay for the idol has to return from the Ganges and return to the Ganges. Within the remaining ritual of the pageant, Durga Visarjan, crowds of dancing and praying devotees say farewell to the goddess by immersing the idols within the river. The temper amongst devotees is intense, with plenty of pleasure and tears.
To my thoughts, essentially the most fascinating ritual and perception – for some, a legend of the previous, for others, nonetheless in apply – hyperlinks the making of the idol and intercourse work. Earlier than the clay is labored and formed into the goddess, it’s left exterior the home of a intercourse employee for an evening, to soak up the great intentions and spirits left by males earlier than coming into to sin.
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Unfold by the proud Indian Bengali diaspora worldwide, the Durga Puja is more and more turning into a world celebration. Within the UK, Durga Puja celebrations in London began in 2009 with the Bengal Heritage Basis. From just a few devotee households, its reputation has reached 9,000 guests over the previous 12 years, aiming to recreate the spirit of the Kolkata Durga Puja.
On one event, idol makers from Kumurtuli have been invited to London to create an idol combining the waters from the Ganges with the Thames. In one other yr, the ceremonial tub of the primary ritual, Saptami, was practised by immersing a younger banana tree (symbolising the goddess) within the water of the Thames. These hybrid practices place the Durga Puja as a medium to bridge cultures and to create a way of worldwide cultural unity.
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