Kolkata: Indian Museum will turn its iconic central courtyard into a Durga Puja space, bringing together ancient representations of the Divine Feminine from its collection with a contemporary installation rooted in Bengal’s traditional Kantha embroidery and sabeki (traditional) craft traditions.
Indian Museum director Sayan Bhattacharya said, “The initiative would deliberately place living craft beside museum heritage. Around sculptures, artefacts and visual representations from the museum’s collection, contemporary works will explore how the image of the Goddess has changed across centuries while retaining its association with motherhood, protection, strength and regeneration.”
Kolkata Centre for Creativity will bring artisans representing nine craft practices from different parts of Bengal, including Pattachitra from Midnapore, bamboo craft from Raiganj, Dokra and folk instruments from East Burdwan , clay craft from South Dinajpur, Batik from South 24 Parganas, jute craft from Murshidabad and traditional wooden dolls and owls. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in Kolkata Stay updated with the latest Kolkata news.
The programme, “Devi Durga: Shakti, Matri, Karuna”, will be inaugurated on Oct 11 and will seek to trace the evolution of Durga worship — from early representations of fertility and motherhood to the image of the Goddess as Mahashakti. The exhibition, titled “Devi Durga – From Matri to Mahashakti”, will trace changing forms, adornments, attributes, myths and manifestations of the Goddess. The wider installation will draw on several of Bengal’s craft traditions, including sholapith, wood carving, metalwork, patachitra and indigenous jewellery-making, turning the courtyard into what organisers describe as a “Thread of Divinity” — a space where heritage, devotion and contemporary expression intersect.
At the heart of the installation will be a monumental Kantha-based interpretation of Durga created in association with SHE Kantha. Hundreds of women artisans are involved in the work, using the act of stitching as a metaphor for cultural continuity — individual threads and memories coming together to form a larger collective tradition. It will also seek to connect the museum’s historic collection with contemporary expressions of devotion and craftsmanship, he added. The Durga idol, brought from Kumartuli and put up at the central courtyard, will be presented in the sabeki (traditional) style. Nemichand Bamalwa & Sons will adorn the deities with real gold jewellery, completing the traditional shringar. A strong focus will also be placed on the artisans themselves, particularly women whose knowledge and labour have sustained Bengal’s traditional crafts across generations. The project positions them not merely as contributors to a decorative installation but as central carriers of cultural memory. The museum has also planned cultural programmes and adda sessions around Durga Puja, extending the initiative beyond an exhibition into a broader exploration of the festival’s artistic, social and cultural memory. The programme reflects the museum’s attempt to present Durga Puja not merely as an annual festival but as an evolving cultural tradition in which ancient iconography, ritual, craft and contemporary community participation continue to overlap. Download the TOI App.