Get to know the nine manifestations of Durga

For Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) student Soumya Basnet, this was no less than a project, and that too, with a deadline of less than 24 hours.

But then, after a whole night of relentless labour, Basnet came up with designs that will now adorn Navratri posters put up on the institute's walls, and will find place on their garba passes as well.

A student of interior design, 24-year old Basnet specialises in caricatures. Naturally, it was this very reputation of hers that got her the task of designing Navratri paraphernalia for her institute - but with a deadline that was almost impossible. "The organising committee that is handling the CEPT garbas, asked me to design for their posters and passes. However, it happened at such short notice, that I had to first spend a few hours trying to figure out the religious and cultural significance of the festival, before I could think of picking up the pencil," she says.

The results though, are as impressive as they are interesting. Basnet has designed the nine avtaars of Goddess Durga, by way of caricatures. "I wanted students to know the significance of the nine nights, and of the goddess herself," she says.

But while she practically raced against time, Basnet was anything but 'inspired' by others' works. "I didn't see any photographs of the nine forms before creating my caricatures. They are purely based on the material I studied about the festival," she informs.

So then, how satisfied is she with the outcome? "I am happy, but not completely so. I feel I haven't entirely succeeded in creating different expressions of the goddess, based on her personality. Had I been able to achieve that, the designs would have been even better," Basnet feels.
Presently in New Delhi and working with scenographer Rajeev Sethi, Basnet is pursuing a thesis titled 'Understanding Scenography'.

She says a part of what she's put into making the caricatures, is her memories of visiting Durga pandals in West Bengal. Her main caricature will be displayed on CEPT walls in the form of a poster, while the nine avatars will be given out in the form of passes.