Durga Puja, which is an autumnal festival, is a central part of the cultural life of
Bengal and a significant cultural phenomenon of India. Starting with the dramatic
rendition of the euphoric Mahishasura Mardini on the Mahalaya, which
announces the coming of the Goddess Durga to her mother's house, to that
solemn moment where we bid farewell to her by the banks of the river, Bengal
steps into a world of festivities like nowhere else. Goddess Durga embodies the
vibrations of Shakti—the primal energy that is creative and gives rise to the new.
It is the time when families, communities, and societies come together,
irrespective of their differences, to immerse themselves in the celebration of this
creative force. Durga Pujo is also the occasion for adda—that quintessential
Bengali phenomenon of informal dialogue and discourse that is inter-
generational,spontaneous & joyful.
Bengal has been the cradle for many a revolution, social reform, scientific
invention, legendary sportsman, and literary, cinematic, and artistic practice.
Most of these practices were path-breaking. The northern part of the city of
Calcutta/Kolkata houses the traditional architecture of Calcutta. Old mansions
and estates still survive among the mushrooming new buildings and apartment
complexes. North Kolkata has historically been a space for the emergence of
various political, social, and cultural movements. The Durga Puja in any of the old
mansions of the northern part of Kolkata still preserves some of the traditional
spirit, rituals, and norms.Engaging with the Durga pujo in a traditional household
in North Kolkata gives a deep insight into the legacy of Bengal, the old
architecture, the traditional ways of Durga pujo, and also the rich cultural
heritage of Bengal.
This year NSHM and Culture Monks propose a design and performance project
that will engage with a traditional Durga Puja in a traditional house on Sukea
St in North Kolkata, to pay tribute to the literary, artistic, and cinematic legends
of Bengal whose birth centenary happens to be in 2025. This includes Badal
Sircar, Manik Bandopadhyay, Ritick Ghatak, Nazrul Islam & Ramkinkar Baij. The
interdisciplinary project will immerse the students in the process of interactivity
with various aspects, including
The cultural history of Bengal
The traditional Durga Puja rituals and celebrations
The architecture of old Kolkata
Site-specific and event-specific design
Multi-modal storytelling and performance
