Description
Dhuno Pora, is a tradition that is followed during the 8th Day of Durga Puja and Jagadhatri Pujoa in West Bengal, India. Though it is even followed at some Bonedi Baris (Heritage Home), it is hard to beat the intensity with which the flames roll up in this particular ritual at a heritage home in Central Calcutta.
Every year, few women vow before the Godess Durga and with the growing flames the vow is fulfilled.
The vowed woman sits in front of the idol, legs folded and hands rested on the knees. Then she is draped with pieces of dripping wet cotton cloth, from head to toe. Three malshas (containers) are placed, one each on the head and the two hands atop lumps of wet mud. The malshas have a fire burning with the help of jute sticks and solid dhuno (frankincense).
Then comes the toughest part, a man expert in this trade comes forward with a bowl full of finely powdered dhuno (frankincense). They take a handful of the powder and throw some in to ignite the flame a little more. Dhuno being a highly inflammable substance widens the fire quickly, and it is then when he throws the rest of the powder towards the sky, which produces an immense flame seen in the pictures.
Besides the historic significance, this photograph is a depiction of inner firepower of a lady who battles through the social hardships and secures an emotional victory in the process.
Name of Artist: Sammya Brata
Medium: Photography
Edition: 40
Image specifications- 4016 × 5019
Shot in the year - 2021
About the artist: A Manager by profession working with one of the Big 4’s of consulting, Sammya has been an aspiring “scribbler” right from the age of 3. Story telling has been pretty much his forte which has gradually evolved into a riveting “pursuit for photo-stories” on the Streets of Calcutta; an interest that has gradually transformed into a zest. Fondly called as “Deckle Edge” (his social media avatar), he is also the founder of Calcutta’s very first and the largest Instagram community “Calcutta Instagrammers” that has conducted hugely successful Instagram-walks & knowledge sharing sessions in the city and have been featured in leading print media like The Telegraph / The Statesman/ Times of India and popular online media like National Geographic Magazine, Mashable, First post, Social Samosa etc. highlighting the success. As a passionate Street Photographer, he has won numerous photography competitions and awards at the National and International level including features by top Photography brands like Canon India, Nikon India, National Geographic Traveller India, Animal Planet, Fujifilm India, Idea Cellular, Vodafone, Sennheiser India, ASUS India, Nerolac Paints, Berger Paints etc. He is also the winner of India’s biggest live photo contest Canon Photo Marathon India 2019 and recently travelled to Japan to represent the country at the Grand Finale of the Canon Asia Marathon 2019. He has also conceptualized and executed a number of successful mixed-media-events like Calcutta Art Confluence and has been the brand ambassador of Vivo India mobiles. His contribution to the book “SoulCity-Inside Stories from Calcutta” is a manifestation of his love, attachment and allegiance towards his “Soul-City”- Calcutta, a book that features one of his short-stories and some his memorable photographs. He has also assisted in curation of photographs for a recently launched book – “The Temporary Calcuttan” and enriched the photo-gallery of the recently renovated Metcalfe Hall, a project by the Archaeological Survey of India. He has also been a two time TEDx Speaker and a part of the organizing team of India’s largest NFT exhibition in Bangalore in 2022.
License: Primary NFT holder is free to use in advertising, display privately and in groups, including virtual galleries, documentaries, and essays by holder of the NFT, as long as creator is credited. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works. Copyright remains with creator.