Clay Images of West BengalCalcutta Notes 7th November 1980 am/pm Krishnanagar. Kali puja was celebrated today and bisarjan scheduled to take place tomorrow evening/night. 7 Kalis in one pandal at the roundabout in Judge's Court Para. 7 brahmins required to do the different pujas. All these images were about the same size (i.e. @ 4 ' tall). I was told by Subir that the favourite of the Roy family is Anandamayi. Most of the priests from what I could see did the pujas simultaneously. We went to Nanda's house to watch their private puja which was done in N's bedroom. There were alpanas-large all over the floor. Subir explained that this is common amongst the pujas done to celebrate harvest-rice paste is used for alpana. The image was the standard 4' Siddeshwari Kali with decorations of chandpat in right hand top, mala of fake hibiscus flowers. In front of the image a mangal ghat as usual surrounded by 4 sticks. The puja started at 4pm and ended at @8.30 I think. I missed the pranpratistha but watched quite a considerable part of the ceremony. the priest sat in front of the image. The first set of noises was accompanied by ululations from one of the women to the right and another woman blowing conch on the left and small children smashed the cymbals. The menfolk didn't seem to take much part in it. The daki sat outside the room. Only the womenfolk came into the puja room to fill dhup, light joss sticks etc. They sat behind and to the right of the priests. The priest didn't seem to know the text very well. He asked the family's name and name of forefathers I think at one point-as if to say these are the people doing the puja and they want your help. Subir told me that most people worship Siddeshwari Kali for success, wealth etc. Mr Mohit Roy took me to another household where Mahalakshmi puja was being done along side Kali (Siddeshwari image) puja. The room for the puja was behind and to the right of the Kali image. In the room I could see a sara, a stool, alpana, a ghat (the usual items for Lakshmi puja). I was told that if you start Kali puja you have to do it consistently for the next 5 years. 11th November 1980 - Interview with Hatkola Duttas 12th November 1980 - Kumartuli + Kalighat 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 |