Ujjain, a town in Madhya Pradesh in central India, is known for its myriad temples – the largest and best-known of which is the Mahakaaleshwar Temple, an abode for Lord Shiva. Since photography inside Hindu temples is not permitted in India, I decided to take a few photos wherever I was allowed, so as to rejoice in the colours of the images of the Hindu deities.
As I’ve mentioned in my previous post, the artistic creations and decorations in and around the Durga Puja pandals are really worth admiring. Take for instance these tribal terracotta artefacts I found in a homely Durga Puja pandal (at Panditiya Sandhya Sangha) on Panditiya Road in Ballygunge, Kolkata.
During Durga Puja, what’s interesting to see are the almost-unique artistic recreations/renditions of the Durga Puja tableau and the decorations of – and around – the puja ‘pandal’ (i.e. the makeshift temple) and the puja grounds. For instance, this year, Suruchi Sangha in suburban New Alipur in Kolkata (Calcutta) has a Durga idol/tableau in white marble. And, the decorations around the pandal grounds are colourful and quite awesome as you’ll see in these photographs:
Around this time of the year (Sept-Oct), Hindus in India (and all over the world) celebrate Durga Puja. Durga Puja is a representation of Goddess Durga destroying ‘mahishasura’ – i.e. an ‘asura’ (a demon) in the guise of ‘mahisha’ (a buffalo). It’s about good winning over evil, and Durga Puja is celebrated as a festival over several days. It is the most-loved festival of Bengalis – i.e. the people of (West) Bengal in Eastern India. A friend of mine in Zurich messaged me yesterday to say that she is attending Durga Puja there. So, go figure!
Durga Puja tableaux are created with much imagination and artistic flair, and can be considered works of art by all means. The typical tableau contains Goddess Durga (or Shakti, i.e. supreme power) in the centre, flanked by her children (last 4 photos): daughters Saraswati and Lakshmi; and sons Kartikeya and Ganesha. Each child is a Hindu goddess or god in her or his own right. Goddess Durga is seen standing tall upon her mascot, the lion. And, at her feet, is the vanquished ‘asura’ (the demon).
The following photos are of Durga Puja in Durgabari in Ballygunge, a suburb of Kolkata (Calcutta).
Silchar is a town in the North Eastern state of Assam in India. While I was there last week, I got caught up in a procession welcoming the Hindu Goddess Durga as the festivities began for Durga Puja. The procession included [see 5th & 6th photos] ‘dhaakis’ (drummers) playing the ‘dhaak’ (a traditional indigenous drum common in Eastern India during pujas and weddings).
Found this wall painting on Panditiya Road in Kolkata (Calcutta) yesterday. With the Pujas (i.e. Durga Puja in Kolkata) knocking on our doors, the Bengalis of Kolkata tend to get creative. This painting depicts Goddess Durga killing an asura (a shape-shifting demon) when the asura emerges from a buffalo. Her four children are alongside.
playing with memories 