Julia Fullerton-Batten
Art Department
Bengali Durga Immersion
Bengali Durga Immersion. September 2018. The River Thames is not even the longest river in the British Isles and a mere pygmy in comparison with many other rivers in the world, yet its significance to British and world history is immense. My fascination with the Thames has transcended into a major project.
Multiculturism is very pronounced in the UK. People from many nations have brought their own religions, customs and cultures into the country and practice them, especially so in London. One event encompassing all these facets is the ceremony of Durga Puja. This is a 5-day celebration of Durga, one of the most popular of the Hindu faith’s many deities. Durga is shown as a warrior goddess riding a lion or a tiger with eight or ten hands holding weapons and making symbolic hand gestures. Her mythology centres around combating evil and forces that threaten peace, prosperity and the karma of the good. She is the embodiment of feminine and creative energy (Shakti).
