Goddess idol in big size made within a day : History repeats in Chandannagar Jagadhatri Puja 2020.

About Indian Clay Idols:

As long as there is 'Art' in the world, there will be hope for something new in the world. Art has the power to show the world a new way. Let's come to the point, you may heard or if you google, you will find that India is famous for spirituality. Many foreigners come to India every year to see the temples of various God and Goddesses. Also India is famous for different cultures and people of India worship clay idol of God and Goddesses in different festivals. The sculptor makes the clay idols with a lot of hard work and passion. In India especially in West Bengal there are a lot of traditional potter quarter. In the local language (bengali) those places are known as 'Kumorpara' or 'Kumortuli'. The sculptor who makes the clay idols are known as 'Kumor' or 'Kumvokar' in local language (bengali) of west bengal. They makes big size beautiful clay idols of God and Goddesses but the amazing fact is, most of them haven't any art college degree. India especially West Bengal (a state of India) is famous for worshiping Hindu God and Goddesses and celebrate different festivals throughout the year. Not only clay idols, also beautiful pandals, lightings, themes etc are the part of those festivals. Those festivals are known as 'Pujo' or 'Puja' in local language (bengali)

Day 1 Evening (work started)

Day 1 Evening

Festivals of India in Covid 19 pandemic 2020

Due to Covid-19 pandemic situation in 2020, many 'Puja' organizers are decided not organize any puja in large format in 2020. Government imposed many restrictions and safety guidelines So, the puja organizers are decided to organize puja (festival) in low format and low budget. Even some of them decided not to make any clay idol of God this year and just follow the minimum ritual. But later, the economic and health condition of country started to improve slowly and puja organizers started to change their minds. Even some of them decided to make clay idols as like past years at the last moment. This kind of incident happened more in Chandannagar Jagadhatri Puja 2020. Chandannagar is a historical city of India, situated in Hooghly district of West Bengal and famous for Light procession, Jagadhatri Puja, 'Jolvora Sondesh' (a delicious sweet with liquid filled inside) and many historical architecture.

Day 2 Morning

Day 2 Noon

Goddess idol in big size made within a day:

In 2020, Jagadhatri Puja started on 21st November (Saptami) and a Puja Committee named 'Bauripara Shitalatala' in Chandannagar decided to worship big size clay idol of Goddesses Jagadhatri on 19th November (earlier they planned to follow minimum ritual without clay idol). This decision was made at the morning meeting but the organizers were at a confusion as to whether any sculptor would agree to make a big size clay idol in such a short time. But the sculptor 'Mahadab Pal' accepted the challenge and assured that the work would be completed on time. The Sculptor and his assistants are started their work in the evening of 19th November (Panchami) and completed their work before 12 am of 20th November (Shosti). This incident shows again that if there is a will there is way and an artist has the power to show the world a new way. But it is very unfortunate that no front line media reported this historical incident. Artists and art are thus repeatedly neglected.

Day 2 Evening

Day 2 Night

Day 2 Night (Completed)

The Artist

Is it a record ?

I don't know whether it is record or not, but obviously it is a remarkable incident in the history of art. Also this kind of incident happened in 1938 at Kumortuli, Kolkata, West Bengal, when the sculptor Gopeswar Pal made the clay idol of Goddess Durga within a day because the previous idol burned in fire. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was the president of that puja. But only a few people are aware about that historical incident due to lack of media coverage.