Blog Homepage Durga Puja: Creating a Goddess The Goddess Durga ready for the Puja For three weeks in the spring of 2009, two artists from India created beautiful images of the Goddess Durga and her family at St Fagans National History Museum. Week by week, simple materials like clay, papier mache, hay and wood were skilfully transformed into finely detailed sculptures – all with their own symbols and meanings. They were made for the Wales Puja Committee – a Hindu group that has worshipped in Wales since the 1970s. Their existing image of the Goddess Durga was old and worn – so they needed a new one. Durga is the invincible Mother Goddess, riding a lion into battle. Created by the Gods when evil threatened the Universe, she is ‘Shakti’ the divine power to stand against, absorb and fight dark forces. Throughout worship, known as Puja, Hindu people celebrate the defeat of evil by Durga. She is portrayed in all her beauty displaying strength, warmth and motherly love. She stands proud on a lion slaying the demon King, Mahisasura. With her are her two sons, Ganesh and Kartikeya and her two daughters Lakshmi and Saraswati. The two award winning artists - Purnendu and Dubyendu Dey – were from Kolkata, India. Throughout the process of creation certain religious rites were followed. The most important of these is known as Chakkshu Daan - the Painting of the Eyes. Purnendu carefully brought Durga to life by painting her eyes. From this point on the image of the Goddess is worshipped as though she has all the powers given to her by the Gods. The Pujas begin on the sixth day of Navaratri, the nine nights of rites to the Goddess Durga, with the welcoming of the Goddess and her family. Mantras are chanted in Sanskrit and offerings made to seek the Goddess’ blessings to fight evil. After nine days the final day known as Dushera arrives, this is the day to say goodbye to the Mother Goddess and her family. In India, they are placed into the waters of the river Ganges, with hopes of welcoming her back next year. In Wales, they are stored carefully ready for next year. Durga Ganesha's body formed by tying hay to a wire frame Placing a mixture of clay and paper on to the straw to form Ganesha's head The Goddess Durga, her lion, and the buffalo demon formed from straw and wire The artist Dibyendu Dey weaving wire and hay to form a head Using a heat lamp to dry the clay Securing the neck of Sarasvati's swan to the body with string as the clay dries Tylluan Lakshmi Placing a mask, already made by the artists, on the Goddess Durga's face The artist Dibyendu Dey shaping the Goddess Durga, her lion and her foe, the buffalo demon A close-up of the head of Kartikeya's peacock The face begins to dry Ganesha before being painted The Goddess Durga's Lion Rolling the clay to make fingers The clay rolled to form fingers and palms Placing the fingers on the Goddess Durga's hands The image of the Goddess Durga drying before being painted Ganesha's mouse, perhaps a symbol of his keen, quick intelligence Painting glue over a thin layer of cotton to seal to seal the form Mixing the paint The artist Purnendu Dey mixing the natural powdered pigments with water The artist Dibyendu Dey painting the Goddess Durga Ganesha The Goddess Durga victorious over the buffalo demon Lakshmi's Owl Placing a glittering border around the form. The colour red is considered to be lucky by the people of India, and Hindu deities are depicted as having red palms to show their divinity. Lakshmi The artist Purnendu Dey painting the lion's eye The Goddess Durga's lion attacking the buffalo demon The artist Purnendu Dey painting the buffalo's head Placing the hand-painted background behind the Goddess Durga A closer look at the hand-painted background The Goddess Durga after the painting of the eye ceremony. From this point onwards the Hindus believe that the image is enlivened, and the Goddess is worshipped as though she has all the powers given to her by the Gods. Sarasvati, Goddess of Knowledge and the Arts, holding her instrument, the veena. Kartikeya sitting on a peacock Lakshmi Ganesha, the lord of all living things One of Ganesha's four hands Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and happiness A close-up of Lakshmi's hand and costume Kartikeya, the brave warrior and Ganesha's brother Sarasvati The Goddess Durga The Goddess Durga ready for the Puja Sarasvati and Kartikeya Ganesha and Lakshmi Comments - (3) Comments are currently unavailable. We apologise for the inconvenience. Dr. S. K. Sharma & Mrs. Sharada Sharma 26 November 2017, 13:58 We watched the whole event and it was breath taking that how an artist can make an image out of natural elements water,earth,fire,air and light. And eyes are so important that will put life into it. When we worship we feel life in image (Pratima). (That’s why eyes are focused when you take a photograph. ) Kausik Mukherjee 26 November 2017, 09:20 Amazing work!Beautiful idol!I know how much time, effort and planning went behind this creation. Thanks to Museum of Wales for facilitating this project Sandip Raha 26 November 2017, 09:15 We were closed involved in this project(Wales Puja committee) and had a superb experience working with Museum staff and their enthusiasm. Especially Sioned and Nia. Comments - (3) Comments are currently unavailable. We apologise for the inconvenience. Dr. S. K. Sharma & Mrs. Sharada Sharma 26 November 2017, 13:58 We watched the whole event and it was breath taking that how an artist can make an image out of natural elements water,earth,fire,air and light. And eyes are so important that will put life into it. When we worship we feel life in image (Pratima). (That’s why eyes are focused when you take a photograph. ) Kausik Mukherjee 26 November 2017, 09:20 Amazing work!Beautiful idol!I know how much time, effort and planning went behind this creation. Thanks to Museum of Wales for facilitating this project Sandip Raha 26 November 2017, 09:15 We were closed involved in this project(Wales Puja committee) and had a superb experience working with Museum staff and their enthusiasm. Especially Sioned and Nia.
