When the Goddess arrives with her husband

Baishnabdas Mullick Bari, Burabazar, Kolkata

Ever wondered why so many old household pujas worship Durga in the Hara-Gauri form (the goddess seated on Shiva's lap) instead of the typical Mahishasuramardini form? Well I certainly have. You have definitely seen those Pujo specials where the news anchor announces the typical vague statements without an explanation- "এখানে দেবী পূজিত হন শিবের কোলে" (here the goddess is worshipped seated on Shiva's lap). 

Adhya Bati, Panchanantala, Chinsurah

Adhya Bati, College Road, Chinsurah

Some families like the Duttas of Thanthania say this image resulted from a divine vision. But it's not just the story of one family is it? This image frequently occurs in merchant households across districts in Gangetic Bengal- Hooghly, Howrah, the 24 Parganas, and Kolkata. On closer observation, you'll observe a pattern- all the households that celebrate Durga in this form are Vaishnavas, and mostly Suvarnabaniks.

Boro Jagannath Bari, Shyambabur Ghat, Chinsurah

Mullick bari, Ghutiabazar, Hooghly

Vaishnava merchants in Bengal saw their heydays in the 18th and 19th centuries. Despite their sectarian affiliations, many of them began Durga Puja as a mark of their wealth and social standing. However, they remained loyal to their religious practices- practicing Durga Puja in the 'Baishnab Mawt' (Vaishnava tradition), maintaining a vegetarian diet, and rejecting sacrifices. But why worship Shiva being a Vaishnava?

Mondal Bari, Chinsurah

A Dutch-Bengal style painting of the form worshipped by Mondal bari. Courtesy of the Mondal family

Well, Vaishnavism in Bengal has always been known to oppose the "violence" and sacrifices of Shakta worship, resorting to devotionalism at a popular level through songs and literature, that resonated with the masses. This often resulted in perceiving the deities in more familiar terms. In this case, it translated to viewing the goddess as a daughter, mother, and wife, a peaceful familiar, and familial image, instead of a demon slayer. This "domestication" or "Vaishnavization" (McDermott, 2000) of the goddess resulted in perceiving her with her husband- in the same manner as the divine couple of Radha-Krishna, the 'kuladevata' (tutelary deities) of most of these households.

Boro Seal Bari, Chinsurah

Shil Bari, Ghutiabazar

Chinsurah-Hooghly stands as a noteworthy example in this case, because most of the Vaishnava merchant families in this region (at least six of them) worship Hara-Gauri. Even going immediately south of it in Chandannagar, one would find only one such house- The Pal Bari of Kundughat. Interestingly, among the handful of Pujas in Kolkata that see this form of worship, two of the families settled in Calcutta after migrating from Chinsurah- The Lahas, and the Mullicks of Burabazar. 

Pal Bari, Kundughat, Chandannagar

Boral Bari, Boral Goli, Chawkbazar, Bandel