More Than A Festival: Sayantan Maitra on Durga Puja as a Public Art Phenomenon
Durga Puja is more than a festival. It is a remarkable example of temporary public art that transforms the fabric of Kolkata every year. massArt is a non-profit organisation which curates the best of Durga Puja’s public art in a preview show. Durga Puja has been named a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and massArt’s aim is to amplify the festival to the world.
From traditional pandals to Bonedi Baris (Durga Puja celebrations in ancestral aristocratic homes) to more contemporary art-themed pandals, massArt preserves and promotes the cultural phenomenon to international and local audiences. Art Fervour sits down with Sayantan Maitra of massArt to learn more about their unique offerings.
How do you collaborate with the artists and local committees to create a cohesive curatorial experience?
There is a selection process for the massArt preview show—we look at over 3000 Durga Pujas from the city of Kolkata itself, demonstrating the city’s eclectic Durga Puja culture. We look at the credentials of the artists, their previous works as well as the enthusiastic local committees churning out amazing bodies of work year after year. The idea of the massArt preview show is to highlight the city of Kolkata as an exclusive public art space—and we have been accredited as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. We want to show the cultural sector in India the possibility of what such a public art festival could look like. Our aim is to gather the best of Durga Puja art on one platform as part of the biggest public art festival in the world.
Is there a central theme or concept guiding this 4th edition?
We want to highlight a combination of all that is happening in the city of Kolkata during Durga Puja. There is no central theme; we are curating the entire city into the festival. Durga Puja is a collective process–the artist is commissioned by a community and each artist oversees several craftsmen to create fabulous structures. We also support the preview show with our Autumn Art Fair at Alipore Museum. Through the fair, we display 24 Durga Puja celebrations(which are to be a part of the preview show) as well as various crafts of West Bengal. Attendees can expect a food trail presenting the culinary journey of West Bengal and a glimpse into the making of Durga Puja art and the labour behind the creations.
What changes have you observed in the Preview Show of Durga Puja Art since the first edition in 2022?
From the first edition onwards, we have been conceptualising the preview show to stand apart from standard Durga Puja celebrations which are attended by millions of people. We curate the art and architecture of Durga Puja celebrations as museum experiences—visitors can talk to artists and enjoy the art at their own pace. The Durga Puja committees have also grown more confident because of the important audiences they are able to bring in. The journey has become smoother over the years.
What are your international aims with the festival?
Since 2022, our aim has been to elevate the show to the international level. We do several roadshows in India and abroad. We were recently at Zurich Art Weekend, and it was exciting to show Swiss audiences what the world’s biggest public art festival looks like. We invite ambassadors, art collectors and connoisseurs to experience the spectacle and spread the word to new audiences.
What is the biggest impact you have seen (culturally or economically) since the launch of the Preview Show in 2022?
If you were to search for the Durga Puja preview show on Google or social media, it would show up as the world’s biggest public art festival, which is a big achievement for Kolkata and for us. Professionals from the Indian cultural sector are paying attention to the preview show. Economically speaking, Durga Puja has transitioned from a local to a global event. Industries and people around the world are seeing the possibilities Durga Puja holds for the future.
Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for Kolkata’s Durga Puja landscape?
We currently spotlight a cross-section of the city through the preview show. We want to raise the standard for such experiences, so that the rest of the city can also reflect on their own Durga Puja celebrations. Durga Puja is not just about the art and architecture of the pandals; the communities and neighbourhoods which participate in the Puja are just as important.
Durga Puja is more than a festival—it’s a reminder that incredible public art can be witnessed in the cities we call home. Which is why Art Fervour is collaborating with massArt on ‘Art and the Goddess–a Durga Puja Public Art Experience’ in Kolkata from the 19th-21st of September, 2025. Beyond the celebrations, we frame the contemporary visual language of the festival in a unique, accessible and art-historical lens. Expect detailed artistry, immersive storytelling, exclusive meetings with artisans and makers and more! Join us in celebrating the culturally-rooted art and stories that give meaning to an ancient festival.
Get in touch with Art Fervour if you’re interested in a curated small guided experience with an art/tour guide. Alternatively, check out www.massart.in for other options to experience the preview show!
Image credits:
Sayantan Maitra and www.massart.in