Ardhanarishvara: The First Transgender Idol of Durga in India

By siliconindia | Monday, 19 October 2015, 03:19 Hrs

BENGALURU: While clubs and communities of Kolkata are pulling up their sleeves for the Durga Puja contests and competition this year, the most innovative idol has been conceptualized by Udyami Yuba Brinda Durga Puja, a local club of Joy Mitra Street, North Kolkata, reports Huffington Post.

In partnership with Pratyay Gender Trust, a local transgender association this time the club has an idol designed after 'Ardhanarishvara'. 'Ardhanarishvara’, in Hindu religion refers to an androgynous form of Shiva and Parvati. Though this iconography is much popular in South India, but in Bengal hardly people know it.

The idol prepared by China Pal happens to be the first transgender inspired one in India. China is the only woman artisan belonging to Kumortuli, the idol makers’ locality in Kolkata.

Creating this sort of an idol for the first time in 300year history of Durga Puja in Kolkata, China shared, “This shows how Shakti, the female principle of God, is inseparable from Shiva, the male principle of God.”

Anindya Hajra, closely associated with the same puja comments, “We are going against the conventions by helping the local club organise the puja. Activities that are traditionally male-dominated — the theme, marquee decoration, collection of subscription, puja committee formation — will see the participation of transgender persons.”

One half of the idol is the usual Durga you see everywhere. On the other end, is Shiva with moustache and pectoral, smaller eyelashes and a dhoti(a male garment around the waist). The idol will be decorated with silver sequins and jewellery.

Mostly contributed by self help transgender groups, the budget of the club is 1.5lakh.

A dozen transgender women from Pratyay are now an integral part of this unique celebration, all set to start from this weekend.

The idea came from Bhanu Naskar, a localite and Monorama Kinnar, a senior transgender member who first initiated the club’s union with Pratyay.

Media coverage at local and national level is helping this club to get more students, filmmakers, artists, and musicians at the connect.

Rajib Bajpayee, one of the Udyani Yubak members said, "The response has been overwhelming. We never wanted the puja to be isolated but want to make it an inclusive space."

Pratyay Gender Trust shared on their official Facebook page said, “This is attempt to reclaim the social space of the marginalized transgender community. We are conscious how sites of worship and associated rituals have Brahminical associations and are a site for misogyny and prejudice.”