The Creation of a Goddess: A Navratri Photo Story
A conceptual photo series that explores the parallels between the sculptor’s clay in Kumartuli and the shaping of female identity.
A video montage showing the transformation from a clay-covered form to the fully adorned goddess. This photo story was a collaboration that explored the entire process of creation and invocation during Durga Puja.
The first step in the creation of the idol, where clay is applied over a straw frame. This image represents the raw, foundational stage of creation, linking the earth to the divine feminine.
A pose reflecting contemplation during the initial phase of the goddess's creation. The story of Durga's birth, formed from the combined powers of the gods, is a powerful narrative of strength.
Lit by a single bulb, this image evokes the humble potter's studio in Kumartuli where the divine takes shape. It questions if we raise our women to be as brave as the goddess we worship.
A tribute to the artisans of Kumartuli, whose hands transform humble clay into a symbol of divine femininity. This photo story was inspired by their incredible, often unsung, artistry.
The second stage involves smoothing the cracks with a finer clay. This portrait, with its cracked clay texture, questions the societal expectation for women to be flawless, unlike the smooth finish of the idol.
Holding a sculpting tool, this image symbolizes the act of shaping and being shaped. It reflects on how a woman's virtues and her 'cracks' are both part of her identity.
A powerful pose from the second phase of the photo story. The red-painted fingertips contrast with the earthy clay, signifying the emergence of the goddess's divine power and warrior aspect.
This image captures a moment of quiet grace amidst the sculpting process. The 'bele maati' or fine clay application gives the idol its smooth finish, a metaphor for the constructed nature of perfection.
The final stage is coloring, where the spirit of the goddess enters the idol. This image shows the 'Sandhi' or moment of transformation, where the figure becomes divine.
About The Creation of a Goddess: A Navratri Photo Story
This conceptual series serves as a visual inquiry into the 'Mrinmayee' (earthen) form of the divine. Each photograph captures the transformation from raw clay to the manifestation of the goddess, serving as a direct metaphor for the way society sculpts the identity of women, balancing our virtues with the 'cracks' that make us human.
Inspired by the Kumartuli artisan tradition, this photo story was born from a desire to bridge the gap between ancient mythology and modern feminist inquiry. When we invoke the goddess, we praise her strength, yet we often hold women to a different standard of perfection.
Through this series, I explored the stages of creation—from the application of 'etel maati' (sticky clay) to the 'Chokkhu Daan' (painting of the eyes). Each phase is a deliberate reflection on the 'Sandhi' or moment of transformation. We specifically drew parallels between the inclusion of soil from the homes of sex workers in Sonagachi—a tradition meant to represent every woman—and our own capacity for inclusive empathy.
This project was a deeply collaborative effort with the photographer Sanjit Debroy, pushing us to move beyond the aesthetic and into the conceptual. It challenges the viewer to look past the makeup and the jewelry to see the clay and the 'cracks' underneath, asking if we raise our women to be as brave as the goddess we worship. It is a visual extension of my work in Bharatanatyam, where movement and stillness both serve as mediums to tell stories of identity and compassion.
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