The idol’s arrival by bullock cart revived an old tradition
“The offering carried a message of abundance and prosperity – a wish that the artisan’s household would always be well provided for, with rice in the fields, fish in the rivers and oil in plenty,” said key organiser Samrat Banerjee. The latter held particular significance this year, as the national song’s 150th anniversary formed the theme of the Durgotsab GK2 pandal. The theme draws on the spirit of Vande Mataram as an expression of the country’s cultural diversity and shared identity. Through art, music, textiles, food and community participation, the organisers seek to explore how the song’s spirit can bring people together across regional, cultural and social differences. The Shobha Yatra marked the beginning of the celebrations in the 35th year of Durgotsab GK2. Curated and produced by the Roots and Wings community, the programme was held at the Naat Mondir. The evening also saw the unveiling of Matrika: The Cosmic Warp and Weft, a series of five monumental diptychs by Spanish-born artist Javier Artacho. Drawing on the cultural and spiritual dimensions of Vande Mataram and Navaratri, the paintings depict scenes of devotion, rural life, sacred rituals and the feminine divine. Combining classical European traditions with the dramatic chiaroscuro of Andalusian masters, Artacho’s work offered an artistic interpretation of the ideas underpinning this year’s celebrations at Durgotsab GK2.
Before the pratima left the workshop, the community observed a ritual called taam thanda, presenting the murtikar with a basket of clothes, fish, and other essentials. The celebrations continued on Sunday with Gandharvika, an evening of classical music featuring musicians and singers presenting raag and raaginis to celebrate Maa Durga’s homecoming.
