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VOL. 8, ISSUE 2 (2023)
The sacred in democracy and the sacred in excess: Studying the sacral in the theme pandals of durga puja
Authors
Asmita Kundu
Abstract
Durga Puja, as it is celebrated in the theme pandals of West Bengal, have
been viewed as a peculiar sociological event by many. While some think of them
as being at the crossroads of what is considered “sacred” and what is
understood as “secular”, others have viewed it with critical eyes either
perceiving them as a more neo-Hindu event masquerading as secular while others
think of it as the domination of market politics in the sphere of religion.
However, it is undeniable that it presents a picture of accommodation of
religion in a modern liberal secular democracy. Can this affair be thought of
as something redefining our ideas of the “sacred” and the “secular” or can this
open up more poignant discussions about the nature of the public sphere in
countries like India? This paper looks at the nature of this festival and
analyses it through the critical lenses bestowed upon by scholars who have
commented on similar issues.
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Pages:19-23
How to cite this article:
Asmita Kundu "The sacred in democracy and the sacred in excess: Studying the sacral in the theme pandals of durga puja". International Journal of Multidisciplinary Education and Research, Vol 8, Issue 2, 2023, Pages 19-23
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