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

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.