Wales in the World


The Goddess Durga

Durga

For three weeks in the spring of 2009, two artists from India created beautiful images of the Goddess Durga and her family at St Fagans: National History Museum. Week by week, simple materials like clay, papier mache, hay and wood were skilfully transformed into finely detailed sculptures – all with their own symbols and meanings. They were made for the Wales Puja Committee – a Hindu group that has worshipped in Wales since the 1970s. Their existing image of the Goddess Durga was old and worn – so they needed a new one.

Durga is the invincible Mother Goddess, riding a lion into battle. Created by the Gods when evil threatened the Universe, she is ‘Shakti’ the divine power to stand against, absorb and fight dark forces. Throughout worship, known as Puja, Hindu people celebrate the defeat of evil by Durga.

She is portrayed in all her beauty displaying strength, warmth and motherly love. She stands proud on a lion slaying the demon King, Mahisasura. With her are her two sons, Ganesh and Kartikeya and her two daughters Lakshmi and Saraswati.

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  • Durga
  • Durga

  • By NationalMuseumWales
  • Author rating: Authoritative 5/5
  • Added 15/06/2010
  • Images of the Goddess Durga and her family created by two artists from India for the Wales Puja Committee at St Fagans: National History Museum in the spring o...
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