Nature is also celebrating Durga Puja. The Shiuli (I found out the botanical name also - -Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) flowers were lying on the grass. The dark green grass with dew, and the white flowers with that tinge of orange, lying there. A beautiful sight to see.
Evening when I go home, I am greeted by the heavenly aroma that comes from the flowers.
Ma Durga is here.
Here is how Ma Durga comes to life.
Kathamo is the bamboo structure. The frame on which the idols of Durga will be made. The worshipping of Durga starts from the day of Rathayatra , actually Ulta Rath, in the month of July (approximately), when the bamboo structure is built and worshiped. Some people build it from scratch every year, but I have seen people also fish out the old kathamo after immersion, and rebuild on top of that.
Kumor or Potua is the artisan who builds the idols. He will go through prayers before he starts work. First, bamboo sticks are cut in different shapes so as to support the main statue of the Goddess and also to create a platform to place her idol. The artisan then painstakingly creates a clay figurine of the Goddess. This is the most difficult part. Straw is bundled and tied around the frames using jute ropes. Traditions talks about using only paddy straw and freshly spun jute ropes. This is molded to give shape. Gradually the stricture forms. He usually will stick old newspapers on the bamboo structure. While one person or group of people are working on the structure, there will be another group or person, mixing the clay to give shape to the idols.
It is said that in Bengal, clay from the door of a prostitute has to mixed with the clay of Ganges and only then the idols will be made. The origin of the story is lost. It may have been used to include them as part of the celebrations. Some also say when men visited the prostitutes, they left their virtues at the door step and then went inside. It was collecting this pious clay is what brought about this. It is said , one cannot just go and take the clay. One has to beg for it, and only then it will be fruitful.
The first coat of clay used to make the image of the Goddess is watery. This helps fill up the gaps created by the straw structure. Another watery layer may be used again, if and only if that is needed. Overdoing will spoil the idol. The second layer is applied very carefully, since this is what actually gives shape to the idol. The mixed clay has to be pure and fine, so that there are no lumps and such while mixing. The palms, feet and head are all made separately and are then attached to the torso.
The face, which is the main part, is created with a great deal of effort. The artisans nowadays use existing molds. If being done for the first time, liquid Plaster of Paris is first poured over it, creating a mold. Then the mold is separated from the clay. The mold is then used to create many other similar heads.
Once the structures are assembled together, a final touch is added before the painting starts.
Cotton cloth soaked in fine clay, taken from the river bed of the Ganga, is applied to the joints of the figurines. This develops cracks while drying and essentially strengthens the joints. The image is then painted with white clay. If white clay is not available, lime and clay is mixed and applied on the idols. Once this dries, the statue is painted with pink or yellow earth colors. Traditionally vegetable and flowers would be crushed and mixed with the clay to form the necessary shade of color. This was then applied. Once Durga, her children and the lion has been colored, the asura is colored in green or brown colors.
The fine detailing of the eyes is done by the main artist. A coat of varnish is applied to the idol and hair, made of jute, is pasted onto the idol's head and is then ornamented.
Traditionally Durga was draped in fabric cut to shape and bordered with brocade and silver threads. Nowadays many people donate clothes for the idols which are folded around.
The idols of the mother and now ready.
While making the idols/ kathamo, one hears a term Ekchala.
Ekchala is the idols in one frame, rather than building the idols separately in their frames and then placing them aside. Ekchala Durga is the traditional way of building the idols.
The Durga Chalchitra, also referred to as Devichal or Chali, is the painted background of the Durga idol. The newspapers that were stuck on the bamboo frame now get transformed.
There are four varieties of Chalchitra - Bangla Chal, Markini Chal, Mothchouri Chal and Tanachauri Chal. Among the commonly seen chali is the Markini Chal. This comes in a semicircular shape, extending from one end of the idol to the other, propped up by two pillars. The Bangla chal follows the tradition of temple architecture. It stretches on both sides of the idol in a suspended pattern and is long enough to fit all the idols present there. Shiva is a vital part of Chalchitras. He is depicted in different postures and moods, such as playing a Vina, dancing, smoking ganja, riding the Nandi and even sleeping.
The lack of patronage has caused this wonderful art to fade away from mainstream art. Moreover, challis are usually immersed along with the idols and hence, no official legacy is found. Nowadays, the Chalchitra is used only as a part of decoration.
In older days when the length of the chalies were more, stories from Mahabharata and Ramayana, besides pictures of Das Maha Vidya of Durga, Nava Durga, Astha sakhi, Dashavatar of Vishnu etc. were painted.
Blue is used as a base with a few exceptions of pink ones. The figures are generally painted in reds. Other colours used are yellow, green, pink and black. In some occasions the chali used to be divided with dark margins like "Choukopots" having images like Narada, Narayana, Shiva, Indra Brahma. In some other region the figures are found to be floating.
Evening when I go home, I am greeted by the heavenly aroma that comes from the flowers.
Ma Durga is here.
Here is how Ma Durga comes to life.
Kathamo is the bamboo structure. The frame on which the idols of Durga will be made. The worshipping of Durga starts from the day of Rathayatra , actually Ulta Rath, in the month of July (approximately), when the bamboo structure is built and worshiped. Some people build it from scratch every year, but I have seen people also fish out the old kathamo after immersion, and rebuild on top of that.
Kumor or Potua is the artisan who builds the idols. He will go through prayers before he starts work. First, bamboo sticks are cut in different shapes so as to support the main statue of the Goddess and also to create a platform to place her idol. The artisan then painstakingly creates a clay figurine of the Goddess. This is the most difficult part. Straw is bundled and tied around the frames using jute ropes. Traditions talks about using only paddy straw and freshly spun jute ropes. This is molded to give shape. Gradually the stricture forms. He usually will stick old newspapers on the bamboo structure. While one person or group of people are working on the structure, there will be another group or person, mixing the clay to give shape to the idols.
It is said that in Bengal, clay from the door of a prostitute has to mixed with the clay of Ganges and only then the idols will be made. The origin of the story is lost. It may have been used to include them as part of the celebrations. Some also say when men visited the prostitutes, they left their virtues at the door step and then went inside. It was collecting this pious clay is what brought about this. It is said , one cannot just go and take the clay. One has to beg for it, and only then it will be fruitful.
The first coat of clay used to make the image of the Goddess is watery. This helps fill up the gaps created by the straw structure. Another watery layer may be used again, if and only if that is needed. Overdoing will spoil the idol. The second layer is applied very carefully, since this is what actually gives shape to the idol. The mixed clay has to be pure and fine, so that there are no lumps and such while mixing. The palms, feet and head are all made separately and are then attached to the torso.
The face, which is the main part, is created with a great deal of effort. The artisans nowadays use existing molds. If being done for the first time, liquid Plaster of Paris is first poured over it, creating a mold. Then the mold is separated from the clay. The mold is then used to create many other similar heads.
Once the structures are assembled together, a final touch is added before the painting starts.
Cotton cloth soaked in fine clay, taken from the river bed of the Ganga, is applied to the joints of the figurines. This develops cracks while drying and essentially strengthens the joints. The image is then painted with white clay. If white clay is not available, lime and clay is mixed and applied on the idols. Once this dries, the statue is painted with pink or yellow earth colors. Traditionally vegetable and flowers would be crushed and mixed with the clay to form the necessary shade of color. This was then applied. Once Durga, her children and the lion has been colored, the asura is colored in green or brown colors.
The fine detailing of the eyes is done by the main artist. A coat of varnish is applied to the idol and hair, made of jute, is pasted onto the idol's head and is then ornamented.
Traditionally Durga was draped in fabric cut to shape and bordered with brocade and silver threads. Nowadays many people donate clothes for the idols which are folded around.
The idols of the mother and now ready.
While making the idols/ kathamo, one hears a term Ekchala.
Ekchala is the idols in one frame, rather than building the idols separately in their frames and then placing them aside. Ekchala Durga is the traditional way of building the idols.
The Durga Chalchitra, also referred to as Devichal or Chali, is the painted background of the Durga idol. The newspapers that were stuck on the bamboo frame now get transformed.
There are four varieties of Chalchitra - Bangla Chal, Markini Chal, Mothchouri Chal and Tanachauri Chal. Among the commonly seen chali is the Markini Chal. This comes in a semicircular shape, extending from one end of the idol to the other, propped up by two pillars. The Bangla chal follows the tradition of temple architecture. It stretches on both sides of the idol in a suspended pattern and is long enough to fit all the idols present there. Shiva is a vital part of Chalchitras. He is depicted in different postures and moods, such as playing a Vina, dancing, smoking ganja, riding the Nandi and even sleeping.
The lack of patronage has caused this wonderful art to fade away from mainstream art. Moreover, challis are usually immersed along with the idols and hence, no official legacy is found. Nowadays, the Chalchitra is used only as a part of decoration.
In older days when the length of the chalies were more, stories from Mahabharata and Ramayana, besides pictures of Das Maha Vidya of Durga, Nava Durga, Astha sakhi, Dashavatar of Vishnu etc. were painted.
Blue is used as a base with a few exceptions of pink ones. The figures are generally painted in reds. Other colours used are yellow, green, pink and black. In some occasions the chali used to be divided with dark margins like "Choukopots" having images like Narada, Narayana, Shiva, Indra Brahma. In some other region the figures are found to be floating.
Very Nice ..this one I missed during my vacation..but very much informative indeed ...I was aware of some puja of the bamboo structure but was not aware of when ...
ReplyDeleteIts a learning for me to, to read and learn about our customs and their meanings.
ReplyDelete