![\"IMG_0653\"](\"http:\/\/cynthiasiegel.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/IMG_0653.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIn the above photo, Dilipda’s assistant, \u00a0Netal Pal, is adding the second layer of smooth clay to this roughed-out form of Ganesha. You might remember from an earlier post\u00a0that this Durga Puja tableaux of images\u00a0had been started\u00a0about a month ago, and had been given several weeks to slowly dry.<\/p>\n
Below, Dilipda’s other assistant, Bishonal Pal, works on adding the second clay layer to the Durga form that is central to the entire\u00a0tableaux, or\u00a0.<\/p>\n
When I returned the next afternoon, Netal Pal was sitting on the floor with a chunk of clay from which he was modeling the hands and feet for all of the figures.<\/p>\n Then — Netal and Bishonal began to add the hands and feet to each figure, ending with Durga’s ten hands — and for me a magical energy filled the Rajbari. \u00a0I felt an intense need to stay and observe until Durga’s final\u00a0hand was attached and secured to her tenth wrist.<\/p>\n In the above photo, Dilipda is working on refining the details of the images. \u00a0His images are\u00a0structured in what several people have referred to as\u00a0the “traditional” style. \u00a0However, regardless of the style in which the figures are rendered, most Durga Puja sculpture\u00a0groupings\u00a0have the following images (I’m listing them in bold<\/strong> from left to right): \u00a0Ganesha<\/strong>; Lakshmi<\/strong>; Durga<\/strong>; below Durga is her Lion<\/strong>, who along with Durga, is attacking Mahishasura<\/strong>, the Buffalo Demon;\u00a0Saraswati<\/strong>, and Kartik<\/strong>. \u00a0Often Mahishasura will be emerging from a buffalo form (he is after all, half man and half buffalo). \u00a0Below is a photo of\u00a0another Kumartuli work-in-process where the buffalo imagery is more apparent (under Mahishasura but\u00a0not painted white).<\/p>\n Ganesha, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Kartik also\u00a0have puja celebrations specifically dedicated to them at some point during the year. The timings for when the\u00a0festivals take place are based on the positioning of the sun and moon, and not on a specific calendar date. \u00a0Timings are available for past, present and future years\u00a0from websites such as\u00a0http:\/\/www.drikpanchang.com\/<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n Often referred to as Durga’s children: With great excitement,\u00a0I returned to Kolkata\u00a0at the end of the first week of September, specifically to observe Dilipda and his assistants in the next stages of work on their Durga Puja sculptures at the Shovabazar Rajbari. In the above photo, Dilipda’s assistant, \u00a0Netal Pal, is adding the second layer of smooth clay to this roughed-out … Continue reading Kumartuli – the second and third visits<\/span> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\nGanesha (above), now fully detailed and needing just one more hand!<\/p>\n<\/a>Bishonal Pal works on Lakshmi and Netal Pal works on Kartik.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0Netal Pal works on Durga’s hands<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nGanesha is the god of beginnings,\u00a0good fortune, and the removal of obstacles;
\nLakshmi is the goddess of wealth, love and prosperity;
\nSaraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music, and the creative\u00a0arts;
\nKartik is the god of war.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"