30th September 1980
a.m.Kumartuli. Met P briefly. Then wandered round and talked with another kumar for a long time. In his studio most of the images were for houses. Two for sarvajanin puja. The styles varied through old to medium to modern. One composite image however had the Orissan lion. This kumar called it ghora-singho. But the faces were not Bangla but modern. He also told me that the chitrakars from Midnapore learnt clay image making from Kumartuli and then returned and set up business in Midnapore.
Kalighat-Profulla and Sirish. Television cameras were going to film in Sirish Pal's studio today. I aksed Sirish if he made any ghora-singhos-none this year. Then i went and talked to the group of kumars I met yesterday (Gopal and co). Business was being done with a sarvajanin committee. This same group came to this bloke's father in 1949 and have been coming ever since (i.e. for 30 years).
Then I went to Shanti Ashram-first after seeing Profulla then for the start of puja at 8.00 (only it didn't start at 8.00 and I left at 9.00 after the ailing sadhu had arrived in his Mercedes and was put carefully onto the dias). The images present were-Mahakali, MahaLakshmi, Kamini (Kamakhya), Shib-Durga, Kali and the Shiva on lion (?). I was told this puja was the Dasamahavidya (10) and Astamahavidya (18) and had been performed for 13 years. The hall was 80' by 60'. In the centre was an anclosed area (with bamboo pole fence). In the centre was the sacrificial post (2 black goatlings were awaiting sacrifice). There will be 108 images of Devi eventually. I was told to come back in 10 days' time when all will be here. i think the samller imaes will go in front. The images will come from temples. Each year this puja (Tantra) is performed. The young guy who had invited me had taken intitiation when he was 19 years old-he's 25 now (spoke quite good English) said that they were a naga (naked) sect. Most of the sadhus had long matted hair, malas and orange robes. This young man just had a red loincloth and arm band with red stone which is the same kind used in rings to prevent heart trouble although he told me that this was not the reason he wore it. I also asked him about Krishnachandra Agavamgisa and he confrimed that he was the first person to worship Dakshina Kali.
Kamini-red with white dress (sari) covered by masses of decorative shola dress. Rides a lion. Her lower hands are placed one on top of the other like meditation and the upper two stretched upwards. Outwardly she looks rather like Jagaddhatri. Shib-Parvati are standing next to each other. Mahakali has 10 heads and is black. I was told that at the beginning of time Mahakali was the only being. Mahalakshmi had one head but several arms and wore a red/pink dress.
Programme sheet:
Kalighat Shanti Ashram's management. For the benefit of the people-a huge awakening of Shakti. Place-Kalighat Dudhwala Park (in front of Mother's temple). Bengali: from 13th Aswin 1387 (English 30-9-80) ceremony extending over a period of 22 days. Decoration of the pavillion-Dipok decorator. Clay art-Sri Sirish chandra Pal and light decorations-India Electrics. Shola decorations-Sri Bhagavati Chitrakar. Printed by 11a Printers.
13th Aswin Tuesday (30-9-80) Shiv-Durga, Mahakali-Chandi, Kamini
14th Aswin Wednesday (1-10-80) Mahalakshmichandi
15th Aswin Thursday (2-10-80) Mahasaraswatichandi
16th Aswin Friday (3-10-80) Katyayani
17th Aswin Saturday (4-10-80) Kali, Tara
18th Aswin Sunday (5-10-80) Shovasi (in the day)
19th Aswin Monday (6-10-80) Bhubanesvari, Bhairavi
20th Aswin Tuesday (7-10-80) Chinnamasta
21st Aswin Wednesday (8-10-80) Dhumaboti
22nd Aswin Thursday (9-10-80) Ardhanarishwara
23rd Aswin Friday (10-10-80) Bogola
24th Aswin Saturday (11-10-80) Matangi, Kamala, Mahatripurashundari
25th Aswin Sunday (12-10-80) Mahatripurasundari
26th Aswin Monday (13-10-80) Mahatripurasundari
27th Aswin Tuesday (14-10-80) Raktachamunda
28th Aswin Wednesday (15-10-80) Mahashasthi
29th Aswin Thursday (16-10-80) Mahasaptami
30th Aswin Friday (17-10-80) Mahashtami at the end of 3-14-3 Sandhipuja (on 8th/9th tithis) beings at the end of 3-36-3 balidan (sacrifice) 2-3 completion
1st Kartik Saturday (18-10-80) Mahanavami, Chinnamasta
2nd Kartik Sunday (19-10-80) Dasami
3rd Kartik Monday (20-10-80) Kamini (?)
4th kartik Tuesday (21-10-80) Shitala
You will prosper from participating in the puja of the Mother.
I also discovered that Patua Para is the road opposite the entrance road to Kalighat i.e. the Kalighat Road. This is the road on which Sirish Pal has his studio.
2nd October 1980 - Kumartuli and Kalighat
6th October 1980 - Kalighat and Chitrabani
11th October 1980 - Krishnanagar
13th October 1980 - Maniktola and Kumartuli
14th October 1980 - Kalighat and Kumartuli
15th October 1980 - Kumartuli, Kalighat, Bhaskar Chunder's house and Hazra
16th October 1980 - Nimtala Ghat and Datta bari
17th October 1980 - Kumartuli, Dutta house and Banerji house of Nafar Kundu Road
18th October 1980 - Krishnanagar
19th October 1980 - Shibnibash and Krishnanagar rajbari
21st October 1980 - Calcutta, Nafar Kundu Road
22nd October 1980 - Kumartuli and Kalighat
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