In India, the nine days of Shardiya Navratri began on 16th October and will conclude on 21st October 2024, followed by Vijaydashmi.

Throughout this festival, devotees install idols of Goddess Durga in temples, grand pandals, and homes, where they offer prayers and worship her.

But do you know that the idols of Goddess Durga, especially in Bengal, are made from mud or soil from sex workers' courtyards, especially Sonagachi, one of the most prominent red-light districts?

This soil is called Punya Mati, and this tradition is part of Kolkata’s Kumartuli. Let's understand in detail how this practice came into existence and its significance in Bengal traditions.

Why Is Soil From A Sex Worker's Home Used In Making Durga Idols?

The potters in Kolkata’s Kumartuli visit the homes of sex Workers in Sonagachi and request their soil from their homes by bowing their heads. This act of bowing before prostitutes symbolises the recognition of women’s dignity and equality, reflecting the broader respect for feminine power in society.

This soil is then mixed with the clay used for making the idol of Goddess Durga.

This soil is considered Punya Mati or Sacred Soil in Bengal’s tradition of Durga Puja. In Bengali, punya refers to virtue or spiritual merit, while maati means soil.

The soil from the sex workers' land is called punya because, according to one interpretation, men who visit a sex worker leave their virtue or purity at her doorstep. The soil outside the home is therefore believed to accumulate this virtue, making it punya or holy.

Another interpretation states that you can't separate the divine from society's backward thinking. Something that society considers impure is used to make the idol of the Goddess, which is considered sacred.

Devotees install idols of Goddess Durga in temples, grand pandals, and homes (Image: Pexels)

Legend Behind This Tradition

According to mythology, a group of prostitutes once went to bathe in the Ganga River, where they saw a leper sitting on the riverbank who wanted to take the holy dip but required assistance. Nobody helped him and refused to acknowledge his presence.

Moved by compassion, the prostitutes helped the leper bathe in the sacred river. Unknown to them, the leper was Lord Shiva himself. Pleased with their act, Lord Shiva granted the boon to the prostitutes when they requested Durga's idols to be made from the soil of their courtyards.

Lord Shiva granted their wish, and from that day onwards the tradition of using soil from both the banks of the Ganga and brothels to create Durga's idols has been carried on by their devotees.

Another explanation links this practice to Goddess Lakshmi, the symbol of prosperity. According to Forward Press, an artisan stated that when a man is unfaithful to his wife and visits a brothel, he disrespects the Lakshmi of his home.

As a result, his good fortune and virtue symbolically left outside the brothel. The soil from this place is therefore seen as holding purity and blessings, making it a vital part of Durga idol-making.

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The soil from this place is seen as pure, making it a vital part of Durga idol-making (Image: Pexels)

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What remains clear is that the ritual has become part of the cultural memory surrounding Durga Puja in Bengal, passed down through generations of artisans and families who preserve older forms of worship.

FAQs

1. Is the use of sex workers' courtyard soil still practised today?

Yes, it is largely maintained, particularly by traditional idol makers, as a crucial part of the ritual for many Durga Puja celebrations.

2. What other unconventional elements are used in Durga idol creation?

Other elements like cow dung, cow urine, and specific waters are used, as they symbolically represent purification, creation, and the integration of diverse natural elements.