Day 4 – Krishnanagar visit to sculptors studios and local artists
This day will be led by an award winning writer from Krishnanagar.
9th Dec – Schedule
- 9am: Meet at Putul Patti, Ghurni
- Interact with clay artists
- Procession Ghurni to Krishnanagar Rajbari led by writer Tamal Bandopadhyay, followed by talk,
- Presentation by students of Krishnanagar Academy
- Performances and artists interaction: Baul/Fakir Subhadra Sharma, Babu Fakir
- Puppetry : Ranjan Roy
- Clay Dolls: Saikat Mondal, Pranab Biswas
- Picnic lunch at Baganbari
- Visit local ‘daaker shaaj’ and shola artist Ashish Bagchi’s studio
To book and for more details
Contact: tamali@thinkarts.co.in
Krishnanagar
Partner: The Krishnanagar Academy
Claimed to be named after Krishna Chandra Ray, this town on the banks of the Jalangi river, was an important centre for culture and literature. On the walking programme in December 2017 we will visit Krishnanagar, but before heading there, we will stop at Maheshganj and visit Balakhana. Balakhana is a beautiful mansion erected by a French indigo planter nearly 200 years ago, around the time when indigo trade was flourishing in this part of the country.
A short boat ride away is Ghurni, a neighbourhood of clay artists. They use the clay from the river and are proficient in making clay sculptures, ranging from realistic miniatures to life size statues. It is said that Krishnachandra Ray, being a connoisseur of the arts, had set up this artists neighbourhood, by inviting a few talented clay artists. It is also said that he began the tradition of Jagadhatri Puja, which is still celebrated with grandeur.
A magnificent example of grand architecture can be seen in Ghurni, in the Roman Catholic Church which is 130 years old. The most imposing building in this region however is the Rajbari, the palace built during the reign of Krishna Chandra Ray, which would have also been the place where the legendary court jester Gopal Bhand entertained the Maharaja.
The Nadia Palace at Krishnanagar is possibly Anga Banga Kalinga’s (Undivided Eastern India’s) oldest Palace. Built approximately in 1603, it spreads over approximately 30 acres. The architecture is basically Mughal- with later modernization allowing splashes of Indo Saracenic and thereafter Roman architectural influences, also to be seen.
Media
Images of Krishnanagar
