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Andy De (www.andyde.com) | profile | all galleries >> Travelogues from around the World >> The Durga Pujas in Kolkata, India, 2002 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

The Durga Pujas in Kolkata, India, 2002

The tradition of worship of the Divine Feminine was common to Hinduism, the Hellenistic traditions of Greece, the Isian traditions of Egypt as well as among the native Indians of South and Central America. While the Greek, Egyptian and native Indian traditions (from South and Central America) have been rendered extinct, the Hindu tradition has survived the passage of time over 6000 years!

The Goddess Durga (the Mother Goddess) who is particularly revered in Eastern India is worshipped to this day with pomp, splendor and pageantry in West Bengal. These photos bear evidence to the devotion, the spectacular worksmanship and the celebration, that the advent of the Mother Goddess invokes in Kolkata, each year.

PLEASE CLICK "SLIDESHOW" ON THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER TO ENJOY THESE PHOTOS IN SLIDESHOW MODE.
A famous Indian temple recreated for the Durga Puja in Kolkata.
A famous Indian temple recreated for the Durga Puja in Kolkata.		 Classic Durga Puja Protima (idol) in Kolkata.
Classic Durga Puja Protima (idol) in Kolkata.		 Witness the impressive temple built exclusively for the 4 day puja.
Witness the impressive temple built exclusively for the 4 day puja.
Contemporary Durga Puja Protima (Idol).
Contemporary Durga Puja Protima (Idol).		 Temple with Durga Protima (inset) in Kolkata.
Temple with Durga Protima (inset) in Kolkata.		 Contemporary Durga Puja Protima.
Contemporary Durga Puja Protima.
Rani (Queen) Rashmoni's Puja at her ancestral mansion in Janbazar, dating back over 100 years.
Rani (Queen) Rashmoni's Puja at her ancestral mansion in Janbazar, dating back over 100 years.		 Durga Puja Protima inspired by the Jagannath Temples of Puri.
Durga Puja Protima inspired by the Jagannath Temples of Puri.		 Puja at the ancestral home of Raja Nabakrishna of Sovabazar, Kolkata, dating back over 100 years.
Puja at the ancestral home of Raja Nabakrishna of Sovabazar, Kolkata, dating back over 100 years.
The Goddess Durga in traditional Daker-Shaaj.
The Goddess Durga in traditional "Daker-Shaaj".		 Greco Roman structure crafted with white cotton cloth and bamboo by the artisans of Kolkata!
Greco Roman structure crafted with white cotton cloth and bamboo by the artisans of Kolkata!		 Puja at the mansion of the Lahas of Thanthania, Kolkata, dating back over 100 years.
Puja at the mansion of the Lahas of Thanthania, Kolkata, dating back over 100 years.
Traditional Puja at the mansion of the Duttas of Hatkhola, Kolkata, dating back over 100 years.
Traditional Puja at the mansion of the Duttas of Hatkhola, Kolkata, dating back over 100 years.		 Novel interpretation of the Goddess Durga, inspired by the folk art of Bengal.
Novel interpretation of the Goddess Durga, inspired by the folk art of Bengal.		 Puja at the villa of the Duttas of Thanthania - a tradition that dates back over a 100 years.
Puja at the villa of the Duttas of Thanthania - a tradition that dates back over a 100 years.
Puja at the mansion of Suvarna Chowdhury of Barisha, Kolkata, dating back over 100 years.
Puja at the mansion of Suvarna Chowdhury of Barisha, Kolkata, dating back over 100 years.		 The Temple housing the Durga Protima, made of dried palm leaves.
The Temple housing the Durga Protima, made of dried palm leaves.		 Contemporary Durga Protima handcrafted from dried palm leaves....breathtaking!
Contemporary Durga Protima handcrafted from dried palm leaves....breathtaking!

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