India has just concluded its ten-day festival season, with celebrations in different parts of the country.
The festivities are spread across nine days known as Navratras, during which different forms of the mother goddess are worshipped, and ends on tenth day with Dussehra. In the eastern part of India, the celebrations begin from the sixth day. Durga Puja, a four-day festival celebrating the Hindu goddess Durga, is celebrated with tremendous fervour, especially in the city of Kolkata. With stylish décor, glimmering lights, live cultural performances, and delicious food, the festival is one long party. The centerpiece of the festival is the goddess’ idol and pandals or temporary structures housing them. These are designed according to different artistic themes, with a large number focusing on gender this year.
For the first time ever, the Uddyami Yuvak Brinda club in Kolkata installed a transgender idol in its pandal. Modelled on the ancient concept of ardhnarishwar, an androgynous half-man and half-woman figure, it was sculpted by the city's only female idol-maker and aimed at raising awareness about the third gender. Meanwhile, another idol in Kolkata’s Deshopriyo Park staked its claim to a Guinness World Record for being the tallest Durga statue in the world.
The end of the 10-day festivities is marked by Dussehra, when larger-than-life effigies of the 10-headed demon king Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakarna are set to fire. Accompanied by colourful fireworks, the celebrations attract a lot of crowds and make for a dramatic sight.
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The days leading up to Dussehra feature Ramalila, or re-enactments of the life of the Hindu god Rama and his victory over Ravana. Held over 10 days, they culminate on the day of Dussehra. The performances are influenced by folk traditions and regional versions of the Hindu epic Ramayana. These celebrations are only a precursor to India's biggest festival, Diwali which falls on November 11 this year.
