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Goddess Kali, a form of Parvati trampling upon the body of Shiva

Unknown1980/1985

Crafts Museum

Crafts Museum
New Delhi, India

The women of Madhubani district in Bihar are adept in creating beautiful caskets, toys in the figures of birds and animals and deities like these, by sewing together a locally-found grass sikki. This grass is picked by hand directly from fields where it grows wild and is split with ones teeth, unlike the moonj grass which requires a sharp needle.

It is then dried and finally dyed in various colours. Water is an important ingredient during coiling stage as it makes the splits more pliant.

In the figure Kali, the Goddess of destruction is depicted holding the decapitated head of a demon in addition to her dagger and bowl for drinking the blood of her victims. She is shown trampling upon the body of her consort, Shiva.

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  • Title: Goddess Kali, a form of Parvati trampling upon the body of Shiva
  • Creator: Unknown
  • Date: 1980/1985
  • Location: Madhubani, Bihar
  • Physical Dimensions: Dyed Sikri grass in coiled basketry; 145 cm x 77 cm
  • Provenance: Madhubani, Bihar
  • Rights: Text : Jyotindra Jain, Aarti Aggarwala. Museums of India, National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, New Delhi. Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing Pvt. Limited, 1989.ISBN 0-944142-23-0
  • Gallery: Crafts Museum collection
Crafts Museum

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