the ‘bonedi bari’ (aristocrat household) pujas follow certain traditions in terms of both iconography and rituals. the idol has to be ‘ekchala’, that is, all five figures would stand against a single backdrop. the idol décor is of ‘shola’ (indian cork) – dried versions of milk-white spongy reed found in waterbodies – or of gold or silver foil.

the ritual takes place indoor, with several homes having a dedicated apse at an elevation from the central courtyard. many have their idols crafted in situ in accordance with specifications typical of the family, with the idolmaker sometimes serving the family for generations, instead of buying them at random from studios of idol-makers. the courtyards are done up with flowers, banana tree trunks and earthen pots smeared with vermilion. most ‘bonedi bari’ pujas take pride in following centuries-old customs.

tradition defines not just the expression of the idol but also the body colour, the appearance of the goddess’s mount and of the demon. like the latter, traditional community durga pujas are characterised by idols that are crafted to look the same every year, with pronounced eyes that demand veneration rather than appreciation that contemporary Art creations inspire.

the focus here is on the grandeur of the goddess rather than the novelty of the structure in which she is housed. the creativity that is showcased here in the structure is in the excellence of traditional craft and craftsmanship rather than in the chosen theme.