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INDIA | Tuesday, 18 November 2014 | Views [815] | View Smaller Image

In God's Image - Layers of this clay are added to wooden frames, built to support several deities in standard poses, normally representing popular episodes from the epics. The attention to detail required of these artists means that this is tedious work and though the festival itself lasts only a week, the work goes on throughout the year.

Tags: india, kolkata, durga puja, religion, travel, monochrome

Grapes of Wrath - Kumortuli is an old quarter of Kolkata where families of artists have been working for generations, producing the most beautiful clay deities for the festival of Durga Puja. These deities are born of the Ganges and will be returned to the Ganges. The process begins by gathering clay from the banks of the river, and stomping it into a workable consistency, usually throughout the sweltering summer months.

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The Face of God - While most of the artists in the area are working on larger than life sized deities, there are some who work on smaller scales. Again, each piece is treated with the reverence and care that you would expect of a proud parent. Everything is done by hand.

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