22nd October 1980
The day before Lakshmi puja.am went to Kumartuli. Met Prodip who was finishing off some of the eyes of 2 Lakshmis (trad slant eye style-standing with legs covered rather like the images off the trad Dp enlarged and yellow). One was later beautifully decorated with shaj. The majority of images were of moulds though still quite a few fairly large images. Interestingly there were also quite a few Lakshmi saras. Prodip was the only one to be making 2D ones and his were all pre-ordered from customers he knew. There are 2 styles. At the entrance to Kumartuli on either side were 2 shops selling varnished saras (both L-saras and Durga saras-interestingly the giveaway inverted type) and these were made by Bangladeshis. The other type is made by one old man in Prodip's employment from Nadia and all the saras are painted on a blue base. These vary in the number of figs-the price varies up to Rs10. The L-sara cost me RS4 and D-sara RS6 in the Bangladheshi shop. Some of Prodip's saras were of Lakshmi-Narayan. All of P's were in heavy demand. In other studios most of the L images were standing. Some held pots of clay, others were to be equipped with decorative pots made of shola. I also saw some unusual images-Narayan reclining on a snake with L at the other end; Gaja-Lakshmi with elephants; L-Narayan seated together; L with maids. Prodip told me that most sarvajanin committees also do Lakshmi puja. However, so far I've only seen one do this and that's the one down Nafar Kundu Road. P also contradicted what Subir said about the lamp left in the pandal.
pm Kalighat. Rows of mould Lakshmis on the entrance to Patua para. On Kalighat Road fairly standard images (modern eyes that is) but a couple of yellow and slant eyed. Most of the images go to household pujas. Rani Chatterjee explained that D leaving was like her daughter leaving for her father-in-law's house.
NB I noticed yesterday that the decorations on the roof the Kali mandir resemble those on the chal of the Dutta family. Possibly some colours?
27th October 1980 - Kalighat and Patuapara
29th October 1980 - Asu Datta's house
30th October 1980 - Tarakeswara, Radhanagar, Gopalnagar, Krishnanagar
31st October 1980 - Tarakeshwara and Kolimbar village