Making, Using, Disposing, Remaking…: Sacred Arts of Re-Creation in Southern Asia

For centuries, in the eastern Indian subcontinent, areas now Bangladesh and states of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, temporary polychrome terracruda (air-dried clay) figural images have been created for periodic pujas (rituals worship) immersed nearby rivers or ponds at event’s close. This essay explores how perennial re-creation ritual supported rise goddess worship, stimulated expansion annual cycle religious festivals, contributed to a modernizing cosmopolitan public culture. Drawing on recent reconsiderations materiality that recognize active roles inanimate objects substances, sacred sculpture is approached through medium consider distinctive contributions clay makes interactions with artists, patrons, devotees, public. focuses transformational character air-dried enables practices making, worshipping, disposing evoke cosmic cycles, harness potencies inhere earth, realign changing times.