Kali Puja 2023: Incredible Art Show On Kali By 12 Artists To Inaugurate A Puja In South Kolkata

A private South Kolkata home - Kapur Villa - of art and experiences curator Oiendrila Ray Kapur which is the venue of journalist and photographer Kounteya Sinha's Kali Puja turned into a venerable gallery when the unique show coincided with the unveiling of the Kali Puja at its premises. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)

It was one of art’s finest moments - for the first time ever - a Home Pujo turned into a venerable gallery. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)

The artists include the legendary Gosto Kumar, India's famous designer Bobo, renowned ceramic artist Partha Dasgupta, Tantra scholar Dr Argha Dipta Kar, national award winning textile artist Sunetra Lahiri, Arjun Prashad, Chonddak Majumder, Srikanta Paul, American artist Jonathan Matas, Priti Roy, Gouri Saha, Rini Seal and Hemal Kapadia. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)

Kapur said Kali represents the force of time, carrying both destruction and creation of life and the universe. This makes her unique and has inspired generations of great artists and their work. However, the art world has seen very little of this repertoire. Most artists do it out of their personal reverence and have hardly shown their work. This show will be unique and path breaking - and that too at a private home open to one and all. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)

Interestingly, the puja is called Shobar Pujo or Everyone's Puja and is the first such example in Kolkata where anyone can walk in and be the host of the puja. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)

Kolkatans have been storming into the house to participate - while some doing alpona, others setting up the artwork - truly immersing themselves in the divinity and togetherness that pujas in Kolkata are synonymous about. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)

The show also had a unique opening - an all women opening - 15 women of repute from the city joining 15 female dhakis. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)

The opening of the show witnessed renowned Kolkata elocutionist Korak Basu and classical singer Sohini Roy Chowdhury recite and sing Kali kirtan and the rendition of Swami Vivekananda’s poems on Ma Kali. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)

Basu said Kali the Mother is a poem written by Swami Vivekananda in 1898, after he visited the Kheer Bhawani temple in Kashmir. The poem glorifies goddess Kali, where the poet worships the terrible form of the Goddess. The poem is said to have influenced Netaji and Sri Aurobindo. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)

This is Kounteya Sinha's sixth edition of kali Puja - known across Bengal as the perfect platform where art and culture merge with divinity and reverence. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)