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Yavatmal School of Durga Clay Sculpting
[edit]The Yavatmal School of Durga Clay Sculpting is a unique clay art tradition that is followed by clay sculptors from the Central Indian city of Yavatmal in Maharashtra. Artists use locally available red clay to make beautiful idols of the goddess Durga. The interesting element of the art is that it embodies local elements, which sets it apart in Durga idol-making.[1]
Yavatmal Durga Utsav
[edit]The town of Yavatmal has a tradition of celebrating the festival of Navratri with great fervour. Art is an important element of it, as beyond regular worshipping rituals, people give strong impetus to artistic creations, of which the red clay idols of the goddess are noteworthy.[2]
Many mandals in the town have been installing the goddess Durga for more than 50 years now. Each year they offer devotees pleasant experiences through various creativities. Following the footsteps of Yavatmal town, the talukas, and villages in the district have begun celebrating the nine-day festival with great interest. The number of mandals has thus risen. In 2022, the total number of mandals was 1200, while in 2023, a total of 1500 mandals made their registration.[3]
Notable Elements
[edit]Yavatmal Durga clay sculpting stands out for its unique approach. Artists, working within a broader spiritual context, inject dynamic elements into mythological narratives. This allows them to express their creativity by depicting diverse themes. In doing so, they expand Durga's representation beyond the conventional image of a battle warrior, portraying her as a champion of causes like nature conservation, women's empowerment, and social responsibility.
In contrast to static and routine styles, the depiction of the battle between the goddess Durga and the demon king Mahishasura is teeming with energetic motion, capturing a pivotal moment in the conflict. The goddess exudes strength, wielding her weaponry with all her hands, with the unleashed snake being particularly striking. The lion, her mount, is portrayed with intense vigor. Every detail of the sculpture vividly showcases the artist's skill. In a confined space, a static scene is brought to life with dynamic flair.[4]
Famous artists
[edit]Snehal Wankar
Ram Chavan
Dhananjay Tayade
Saleem Sheikh[5]
Umesh Badere
Nilesh Deshmukh[6]
Ranjana Lavhekar[7]
Image Gallery
[edit]
- ^ Bhagat, Asit (2020-10-19). "Yavatmal Durga Utsav: A Tale of Little Known Clay Sculptors from Central India". Caleidoscope | Indian Culture, Heritage. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ Bhagat, Asit (2020-10-19). "Yavatmal Durga Utsav: A Tale of Little Known Clay Sculptors from Central India". Caleidoscope | Indian Culture, Heritage. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "Navratri 2022 | आज से जिले में नवरात्रि की रहेगी धूम, 1500 सार्वजनिक दुर्गा उत्सव मंडलों के ऑनलाइन आवेदन | Navabharat (नवभारत)". www.enavabharat.com. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ Bhagat, Asit (2020-10-19). "Yavatmal Durga Utsav: A Tale of Little Known Clay Sculptors from Central India". Caleidoscope | Indian Culture, Heritage. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ Bhagat, Asit (2020-10-19). "Yavatmal Durga Utsav: A Tale of Little Known Clay Sculptors from Central India". Caleidoscope | Indian Culture, Heritage. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ Bhagat, Asit (2021-10-06). "Art and Adaptation: Keeping up the Tradition in the Times of Climate Change". Caleidoscope | Indian Culture, Heritage. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ Bhagat, Asit (2022-09-26). "Defying Boundaries: When a Woman Sculpts Her Own Divine Form". Caleidoscope | Indian Culture, Heritage. Retrieved 2023-09-27.