Every year, Kolkata metamorphoses into an artist’s haven at this time of year. After all, it is Durga Pujo when the otherwise tardy city heartily gears up to emerge as the display ground for the finest art. Creativity comes alive, and aesthetics get animated during these few days, leaving the impression that while art is transient, its impact is enduring.
Belief or Bewilderment?
This year, it is not the same. There is a tug of war between belief and bewilderment. However, while the annual euphoria is moderated, the innate emotion can barely go missing. For Durga is our Mother; she is our Daughter as well, and when demons overpower our inner and outer worlds, She rises to become our Devi too.
Chai Na Hote Uma!
Suddenly, I am reminded of a heart-wrenching presentation of Durga I witnessed last year. It screamed out the message “Chai na hote Uma!” as it exhibited the atrocious reality faced by every girl, irrespective of age and association.
One disturbing installation after another was placed, only to create outrage towards such acts of barbarity. A girl’s head and hands were visible through a stifling gunny bag; a rotating disc with girls standing on them, their pelvic areas replaced by apples while repulsive tongues stuck out and vultures perched around; a solitary girl with two mirrors in front of her and two beds on both sides; and finally, cages all around, enclosing clay heads of girls and Durgas, one barely discernible from the other.
Kolkata’s Tilottama
Little did I know then that art would actualize soon enough into a truth that is both shattering and sinful. Of course, it is just one of the countless crimes and atrocities committed against women every second, everywhere. Yet Kolkata’s tie with her Tilottama is unique and unparalleled. The city that celebrates the Mahishasura Mardini every year this time relentlessly seeks justice until evil is exterminated and fairness fortified.
Pujo or No Pujo – That is the Question
The preparation for an event is always more hedonic than the event itself, and thus the “pujo ashche” feeling is more precious than the pujo period of five to seven days. But at present, the scene is somber, and the effervescence is evasive. People have chosen to reckon with the realities of Durgas in diverse domains before invoking the Devi to deliver them. Indeed, our Durgas are in distress, and not just Kolkatans, but people all over the world are caught in the dilemma of how to respond to both tangible and intangible manifestations alike!
The other day, on my way back from work, I noticed the comparative emptiness in the otherwise congested marketplaces alongside the hollowness that haunted the eyes of the public. Hoardings were being put up, and pandals prepped for the occasion, but the spirit was damp, and the impact of the diabolic incident emphatic. Corroborating the mood, the sky too is grey and grieving all the time, and the customary billowy clouds and bright skies seem banished till better beginnings.
The conception of every idol and idea related to pujo happens at Kumartuli, and yesterday, my probing self almost compelled me to take a walk down the winding lanes. It is a favorite facet of my pujo passion, but this year, everything was distinctly different. Of course, the shameful state of affairs had affected the artisans too. They are the ones who literally make the Durgas, and their agitation would certainly find a way into their artwork and aesthetics.
The Power of Art and Artisans!
Talking to a few of the idol makers was enlightening and empowering, nonetheless. As a community, they had taken out protest marches, and many of the artists were doing what they could do best—paying homage to their very own Tilottama through their handiwork. They wanted their art to hurt the collective conscience and to instigate every onlooker to act. The clay Durga was intended to be a reminder of her once-flesh-and-blood-now-dust embodiment, and the Mahishasura(s) shared the disastrous destinies of their deity counterpart.
Let us not be shocked if we come across the Katyayani form of Durga this year. Being a warrior goddess, She will bestow on us the courage to face every challenge and the strength to safeguard ourselves from malevolent forces. If need be, let us supplicate Kalaratri, the most ferocious form of the Devi, to enable us to crumble every iota of cruelty and shield those in need of empathy and assistance.
The Future is Looking Up…
Teenagers and young adults too have resonated with this vibe wholeheartedly. Far from being cheerful, they are curious and concerned. Instead of visiting malls to do pujo shopping and planning parties for the five nights of festivities, they are engaging in discussions and arranging demonstrations. Through installations and performances, they propose to punish the perpetrators and initiate change. The change that will empower each one of us to secure sustenance from within to obliterate every evil that threatens the She and throttles her existence.
Only then will a society surface where every girl is a manifestation of Devi Durga and the qualities She represents. She is powerful yet grounded, determined and dedicated, knowledgeable yet emotionally intelligent, healthy and wealthy, strong and fearless, fierce and destructive, beautiful and benevolent, and finally, wise and victorious. She is you, and she is me, and let us pray that this year, she heals humanity and restores righteousness in the world that is deeply desirous of it.
By Promita Banerjee Nag
An avid word enthusiast and content-churner, Promita is fuelled by novel writings, ideas and light-hearted banter. A teacher by passion, she treads the path of unequivocal learning with and through her students. Mother, music and ‘mishti’ mostly convince her. If you wish for a tête-à-tête, feel free to reach out to her at promita033@gmail.com.
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