Clay Images of West BengalCalcutta Notes 10th September 1980 a.d. Victoria Memorial met Prof Ray and introduced myself. He in turn introduced me to his two research students Bhaskar Chunder (male) and Gopa Chaudri (female). Both are researching into the prominent fmilies in Calcutta from 1700-1900. Suggested I go to National Library and read Shivanath Shastri's book on the Nadia family. Also that I go to the Bangaliya Shaitya Porichoy on Upper Circular Rd. The last of the family of Raja Krishnanchandra Roay is Sarischandra Roy who lives off Park St on Ripon St where police wireless HQ is. Also that I read up on N N Gosh's book on Nabakrishna Deb. The oldest Durga puja performed in Cal belongs to family of Raja NK Deb at Shoba Bazar, Raja NK Deb St. I had a look at 'Glimpses of Bengal' (?) produced during Curzon's time when apparently there was a big concensus on all the maharajas in Cal. Next to Calcutta Museum on Chowringee with Pallabi Basu. A brief visit, saw room on Surya-Maurya art. Go to Calcutta Museum to see Mahisamardinis in terracotta etc. Also last year's prize winners for the Dp image contest. Musical instruments: nagara (drum), shingha (trumpet) sound carried for miles and told of the approach of the enemy-gave warning. The conch blown by the Pandavas to get their army together. Dokara-4 stringed instruments used by Bauls. Sarasvati has the vina, not the sitar. Vina is a Dravidian instrument, the oldest instrument. Lots of instruments in temples. Katyayani (Druga) vina for instruments. Instruments connected with the gods-also Daksinivina. Mridanga-a very large drumused in S.India. Madan drum-used by Santals. Dak-another large drum used in Dp. p.m. with Prodip. Uncommon images-Manasa, Sitala, Biskarma, Santoshima ('I didn't know S when I was a child, after the movie named Santoshima, even my forefathers didn't know-it has come from Maharashtra): it is female with 4 hands, cross-legged, 4 weapons (sword, conch...), the Dasamahavidya (Chinamasta etc), Sonithakur (black 4 hands, stadning on vulture) 9 female figures making up an elephant Radha-Krishna sitting on it, a small model can be seen at Howrah (Shobabazar rajbari) it is called Nabanari, Tara (one of the Dasamahavidyas), Annapurna, Jagaddhatri (Kumartuli and Chandanagar). Shasthi puja (sitting on a black cat + 2 children) 'Now nobody worships because our government has ruled no more but 3.' Shash is most uncommon. Mangal Chandi from mangal kavya which was written in East Bengal 'It is not our puja actually'. Dharma mangal-West Bengal. another uncommon-Brahma (red, four hands, holding a kamandalu, a pot to keep Ganga water-different from ghata). The head-nothing is put in it. A small portusion of straw covered in clay. This constitutes the neck. all the Biskarmas are from moulds. 12th September 1980 - Kumartuli 13th September 1980 - Kalighat and Calcutta Museum 14th September 1980 - Kumartuli 15th September 1980 - Kalighat 16th September 1980 - Kumartuli 19th September 1980 - Ramlal Bazar 20th September 1980 - Kumartuli, Nimtala and Dum Dum para 21st September 1980 - Rajbari and Kalighat 24th September 1980 - Kumartuli 26th September 1980 - Victoria Memorial 27th September 1980 - Kalighat 29th September 1980 - Kalighat 30th September 1980 - Kumartuli and Kalighat |