The creativity associa­ted with Durga Puja is not an even playing field. For instance, folk tra­ditions of craftsmanship as­sociated with the pujas are on the wane. Hearteningly, Banglar Lokshilpe Durga, curated by Bidhan Biswas at the Chhobi-o-Ghor Gal­lery, strove to shed light, once again, on the crea­tions of Bengal’s craftsmen — Sutradhars, Patuas, Kum­bhakars and Sankharis — and their myriad creations.

The exhibits comprised diverse patachitras — Chan­dipat, Chalchitra and Dur­ga­pat — along with performative masks, such as the Chandimukha, and puppets used to chronicle folk tales involving the goddess. The patachitras were not overwhelming; but Reba Pal’s chalchitras were familiar in their bold colours and delicate strokes on the arc-like chala. Mahadebi Shankha, an intricately designed conch, by Bablu Nandi and Sholar Debimurti by the daak-artist, Soumik Bhaswar, displayed both the aesthetic grace and the technical finesse that traditional artists are renowned for.