How Durga Idol Is Made In Bengali Culture

Maa Durga

          In my previous blog I have told you the mythical history of Durga Puja. As I am a Bengali, I love Durga Puja very much. So it will be unfair if I don’t share with you everything about Durga Puja. So for the next few days I will be sharing with you all the information about a Bengali Durga Puja. So stay with me. Hope we will have a very good time.

Face of Maa Durga

          Today is the sixth day of Durga Puja. In Bengalis the Durga Puja starts from this day. I will share all about this day later but before that it will be great to take you to the journey from the beginning.

Durga Pujais a ten day event, but in Bengal the last five day is celebrated. But it all starts about 2-3 months before. The process of creation of the sculpture of Goddess Durga is itself a ceremonial process. This process starts with the prayer to Lord Ganesh. 

Sculpture of Goddess with Bamboo and Straw

          The sculpture idols are cast in the bamboo frames. Next straw is used to make the structure of the sculpture. As Durga Puja is the post monsoon harvest festival it uses the materials closely related to Bengal’s harvesting cultures. In many traditional households in Bengal the puja starts with the making of this bamboo and straw structure.

Clay Applied Structure of Goddess Durga 

          Then clay is applied to this structure. The tradition is to collect the soil from different regions because Goddess Durga is believed to present in everything and in everywhere. Mainly in the tradition of Kolkata, the custom is to combine a soil sample from the areas such as Nishiddho Pally (brothels) to make the sculpture of the Goddess.

Making The Face Of Maa Durga

          The heads of the statues are the most complex parts. So they are made separately. Then they are joined with the main sculptures.

Unfinished Idol of Goddess Durga

          Then the sculptures are dressed and hand painted. Finally the sculptures are decorated and bejeweled.

Drawing The Eyes of TheGoddess

          But in the Bonedi Barir Puja (Traditional Household Pujas) the eyes of the sculpture of Goddess Durga is drawn on the day of Mahalaya. The Trinetra (the three eyes) of the Goddess symbolizes the life. According to the Puranas, Goddess Durga was made by the Hindu Trinity (Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva) on the day of Mahalaya to kill the demon king Mahisasura. That’s why the eyes are drawn on the occasion of Mahalaya.

Maa Durga

          So, it was the story of the creation of the sculpture of Goddess Durga. In my next blog I will be sharing with you the flavor of Durga Puja of Bengal. So stay with me.