Durga Puja is a festival that is deeply entwined in the heart and soul of Kolkata. On the five days of the festival, the city turns into a piece of art with awe-inspiring pandals, gorgeous pratimas, vibrant lightings and aesthetic installations. Months before the actual celebration, sculptors and artists toil day and night to create these artworks, that draw crowds from all over West Bengal and India. But have you ever imagined what happens to the pandals when the celebrations are over? Are they simply pulled down to free up space? Unlike before, many of these artworks now make their way to parks, metro stations, art galleries and more. Some of them are preserved in Kolkata’s Durga Museum, popularly known as Maa Phire Elo, meaning ‘Mother Returns.”
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An Ode To The Craftsmanship
Nestled in South Kolkata’s Rabindra Sarovar Complex, the Durga Museum houses spectacular idols of Durga Ma from renowned pandals of the city. The museum came into existence in 2012 under the initiative of Mamata Banerjee. While the pomp and fervour of the festival might be missed here, one can visit the museum all around the year and feast their eyes on the stunning masterpieces.
Durga Museum, Rabindra Sarobar. Amazing collection of durga idols over the years from some of the major pujas of #Kolkata https://t.co/wqop5pHnp3 pic.twitter.com/jTqXbUlOM6
— Rangan Datta (@rangan_datta) April 14, 2021
Some noteworthy structures of the museum are a steam engine, a quaint tower and a terracotta horse, among others. A part of the museum is open-air and visitors can witness the installations while strolling through the greens.
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The Museum Has Artworks From Popular Pandals Across The City
The Durga Museum has curated pieces of art from puja committees like Chetla Agrani Club, Naktala Udayan Sangha, Tridhara, Hazra Yuva Maitree, Bosepukur Talbagan, Hatibagan, Jodhpur Park 95 Pally and more. It is not the popularity of the committees, but the splendour of the handicrafts that get them selected to be displayed in the museum. Apart from the Durga Museum, another similar gallery is located in Kolkata’s Eco Park where some of the idols are on showcase.
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So, those who missed visiting Kolkata during Durga Puja can head to these museums to spellbind themselves on the artistry of Bengal.