Manipur violence to tribute to nude models, Bengal's Durga Puja has it all
Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata is unique in itself. Puja organisers have left no stone unturned to come up with some eye-catching themes to attract people.
Jagat Mukherjee Park Puja Committee in north Kolkata is paying tribute to nude models through its theme this year.
It is also honouring 65-year-old Phulkumari Das, who has been a live nude model for art college students for over four decades.
Through its theme, the puja committee is honouring her fraternity and trying to spread awareness among people that nude models should not be looked down upon and nude modelling be treated as just another profession.
Known as 'Phuldi' in the artist community, Das has modelled for various stalwarts over the years.
According to the organisers, she started modelling for artists at the Government College of Art and Craft from the age of 16.
Later, she became an inspiration for many who decided to follow her path. Such models have an immense contribution in the making of an artist and Phuldi is one of them, pandal artist Parimal Pal said.
«As doctors need corpses to study the internal organs of human beings, these models help students learn about figures and portraits,» Pal added.
«Many people might have seen her in paintings, but not her in real life. Society looks down upon them.
They come from poor families. Our effort is to honour them and their work,» Pal said.
Another puja committee in north Kolkata is paying tribute to Sukumar Ray, one of the icons of Bengali children's literature, known for his famous 'Abol Tabol'.
