Durga Pujo Celebrations in Kolkata

ich description

Divine Itinerancy is a documentary feature produced by the Lalit Kala Akademi as part of their project ‘Preservation and Digitising the Art Activities during Puja Festival in Kolkata.’ The Durga Puja celebrations are amongst the grandest and most eagerly awaited social and cultural events in the Bengali calendar. This documentary, made in May 2014, covers about 2,500 pujo pandals in Kolkata.

The homecoming of the Devi Durga during the month of Ashvin (September-October) is marked by the appearance of the kaash phool (wild sugarcane flowers). During this time, the worship of Devi Durga lasts for four days, culminating in the immersion of the Goddess in the river Ganga.

The film documents the transformation of city spaces as seen through the eyes of the artists involved in the festival. Over the course of three to four months, these artists work to perfect their vision for the festival. This documentary examines the works of various artists, from mainstream to traditional. It also focuses on the various artistic movements that have emerged over the course of the twentieth century in the service of Durga Puja. The film ends with a look at the new pujo art movement of the twenty-first century, which has generated significant attention not only from the public but also from art historians and scholars.