Clay Images of West BengalCalcutta Notes 12th November 1980 am Kumartuli to see Prodip. Jagaddatri images under way. Saw a dual Kartik at the entrance to Kumartuli. Kartiks were also being made because K is always worshipped on the last day of the month of Kartik. As it so happens in Chatubabu's household this year they will be celebrating both simlultaneously as according to the punjikas, JP falls on the same day-just by coincidence. Prodip tells me Chatubabu's family celebrates all the pujas. Kartik can be done at night and JP in the day. Most people do either Kp or Jp not both. This year Prodip is making 9 Jp images, one of them is for Sarvajanin and the rest for households. I asked how long this has been going on and he said his grandfather, Suren Pal, also used to make about the same number for household puja. Prodip also told me that most of the Duttas lived on the same street. He also said that the Mitra family do live near Madhan Mohun temple but they don't do any Dp, Kp etc. I bought an ekchala chitra for Rs 12 from one of the Shajwallas. It's standard. Moth chauni chitras are hard to come by. This one I got is by a Krishnanagar artist-ekchala. Prodip says that there is one brahmin family who for many years has asked for what P calls the traditional Jagaddhatri clay ornamentations-even clay sari (no cloth used). Nowadays daker saj and shola. pm Went to see PC Dasgupta-director of State Archaeological Museum (he will retire in April '81 and the Museum has been moved to Behula, or rather is in the process of moving). His speciality now is pre-history but he's interested in terracottas and seemed to know what I am looking for. He told me that I should be concise and brief in writing, not just show loads of photos for other scholars to pinch and to express my views fully. He also said that images of Jagannath etc are also made and worshipped at Melas-I should mention these small, crudely-made images. I should deal with the 'inspiration/motivation behind the art' of the clay figures and this means aesthetic and philosophical-I should quote Skt sources cf Vedas-Puranas (and Chandi I suppose). He mentioned H.Zimmer 'The Art of India and Asia' in 2 vols. The origin of the Durga image. He also said that there are fossils of lions from Bankura area and that lions were in Bengal in the last century (?). Also saw a book that was passing through his office by Mildred Archer 'Indian and British Portraiture' 1979. In it Solvyns is mentioned. Solvyns 1760-1824. In Cal between 1791-@1803. There is also info on Daniels in this book. Evening-Kalighat. Bought small Kali image for Rs2 from stall just outside the temple. Trying to find Gobinda of Dutta family but no luck. There are 2 Radha-Gobinda shrines next door to each other, one inside the courtyard and one outside to the Kali stone's right (i.e. West). Saw a Kali from Kp in pandal. Most images were immersed the day before yesterday (i.e. 10th). Saw Tal-path bamboo used to surround the ghatas in puja time: used for Tir-Kata (delineating the boundary?). Also saw small saras being decorated with floral designs for weddings. Shajwalla shops and flower sellers etc. Everything geared to puja except-notice board saying Kali, Kali, Maha Excema. Also quite a few women going in small groups accompanied by drummers. Cymbals in a procession to Ganges to fill copper vessels with water. Small drums-not daks. For some puja or other. PS Apparently no image of Kali is allowed to be made within the area known as Kali Kshetra. This was in the old days (Kalighat area). 13th November 1980 - Viswa Bharati 14th November 1980- Patuapara and Kumartuli 15th November 1980 - Krishnanagar 16th November 1980 - Krishnanagar 17th November 1980 - Krishnanagar 19th November 1980 - Calcutta + Dutta family 20th November 1980 - Kumartuli 21st November 1980 - Calcutta State Archaeological Museum 22nd November 1980 - Krishnanagar + Nabadwip 23rd November 1980 - Krishnanagar + Shantipur 26th November 1980 - Mecheda + Tamluk 30th November 1980 - Krishnanagar |