How do you define the undefinable, the unfathomable, the indescribable?
Well, the known recourse has been through the familiar , the concrete.
In a bid to know the City and all her connects, one must know what her emotions and economics are tied to, with equal interest. And we Calcuttans are known to be biased towards the former. Embarking on this journey of emotions, we selected 5 motifs featured prominently in the repertoire of a persona who exudes all that is quintessentially Calcutta. She is Parama Ghosh- artist, entrepreneur, owner of brand Parama, which has travelled across the world, blending saris, couture, Calcutta, art in a heady mix that is pure aesthetics.
So what are the Motifs of the Mother?
Well, each one has been handpicked from Parama’s collection, and woven into the story of the 5 days of festivities.
#Motif 1- The Shiuli- for Shoshti.
The first formal day of festivities is Maha Shoshti- though the unofficial celebrations begin way back. The most humble herald is the shiuli flowers -spotted in homes, backyards, gardens and almost everywhere. Once a year, when the sun starts to turn mellow, and the white clouds occasionally part to give us sneak peaks of blinding blue skies, bunches of red stemmed white flowers in a simple pattern grow and lay themselves at our feet, almost begging to be noticed. The arrival of these flowers are the first signs of Autumn and the return of Bengal’s favourite daughter.
Parama recalls her childhood connect with the shiuli- her grandmother’s house had a tree which used to flower abundantly as a sign of the coming season. This memory made its way seamlessly into the shiuli motif – one of her earliest trademark motifs way back in 2015. This flower has found its more glamorous avatar this season, featuring in jewellery tones, in Parama’s special Abhoron collection, featuring adornments of the Goddess.
The Shiuli is not assertive like the Hibiscus, nor is it exotic like the orchid- yet it has inextricably linked itself to autumnal joys and nostalgia related to such joys. How apt a motif for the 5 days everyone has some memory to smile upon!
So what are the other motifs? Keep watching this space, as we, for the first time, keep updating the blog on every festive day!
Shubho Sharodiya friends – or simply Season’s greetings and best wishes!
Pic credits – https://www.instagram.com/parama_g
Find her on https://www.facebook.com/parama2016
#Motif 2 – Kumortuli -nursery of the Gods
Dedicating our Saptami to the hundreds of artisans in the famous alleys and backlanes of Kumortuli, which is the main hub for building the celestial beings who are celebrated with fanfare in the City. To commemorate their matchless contribution to the Five days of the Goddess, we picked the Kumortuli map motif from the works of Parama, as the second motif. The hand drawn map of the Kumortuli locality , including the names of the workshops of the artisans she knows by name, feature on her saris, along with a special tribute to Ray’s Shoshibabu in Joy Baba Felunath. Shoshibabu represents all the artisans who spend a lifetime with their craft. Do you remember the most famous dialogue of sleuth Feluda to Shoshibabu?
Motif #3- Mohaloya
The season of the Goddess is invoked officially not just by the lunar calendar – a new moon day- but also by a radio programme recorded way back in 1931 at the All India Radio station studio. It was a landmark presentation of 90 minutes which brought together some of the most famous personalities of the day including Pankaj Kumar Mallick, Hemanta Mukherjee and of course the recitation of the Sanskrit shlokas by Birendra Krishna Bhadra. Initially a live presentation, the pre recorded form began from 1966 and every festive year is heralded by the strains of this presentation from 4am in the morning.
Parama weaves this Mohaloya motif, with radio and a plate full of offerings as another Motif of the Mother synonymous with the festive days.
Motif #4 Aalta lined feet
The red coloured feet is synonymous with the vital energy one associates with the Mother figure and uniquely for Parama, also the energy of a passionate danseuse.
This vision finds its way into the motif of the Aalta pa or the red lined feet of the divine in every woman.
Motif #5 Adornments of the Goddess
What could be a better parting gift for the one we love, than adornments that display our love and awe and what she means to us. Abhoron or adornments is the fifth Motif of the Mother. As the City bids her goodbye, we dress her up lovingly with all our prayers and wishes in the form of rich jewellery and embellishments . The motif of the Mother symbolizes just that.
We do hope we have been able to invoke the essence of the festive season in you.
A special word of gratitude to@parama_g for being so generous and helpful with her inputs.
Calcutta is a world unto herself. Come, visit this world with us @calcuttawalks
The Calcutta Walks Blog 