Daker Saaj

The appeal of Bengal’s traditional Daker saaj- a unique and exquisite artwork to decorate Devi Durga’s divine beauty transcends time. The daaker saaj is made of silver foil along with other materials. Almost all traditional pujas still use daker saaj as it is linked to our tradition and culture.

Daker saaj is extensively used in all traditional household pujas including famous ones like Sovabazaar Rajbari, Seal bari to name a few. The silver foil used for idol’s decoration were imported by Sovabazaar Rajbari from Germany through post i.e. “dak’ in Bengali and hence the name daaker saaj.

This daaker saaj lends a unique beauty to Ma Durga’s idol and hence finds patronage among young people also. Nowadays daker saaj is also exported abroad where Bengalis yearn to see their Durga in her traditional look.

Devi Durga was created from the combined energy of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu. She was gifted with weapons from all gods each of which has its own significance.

The conch shell signifies the “Pranava” or mysti word “Om”. The bow and arrow indicates her control over both kinetic and potential energy. The thunderbolt signifies firmness with which challenges should be dealt with. The partially bloomed lotus stands for certainty of success but not finality. The lotus also symbolizes continuous spiritual evolution. The sudarshan-chakra or disc signifies that the entire world is at her command and she destroys evil so that good can prosper. The sword denotes knowledge which must be as sharp as the sword. The trishul or trident stands for three qualities- satwa (inactivity), raja (activity) and tama ( non-activity).

Devi Durga also holds a noose, a spear, a bell, axe and armor.

In West Bengal, Durga is worshipped as Uma, daughter of Daksha, king of the Himalayas and plains. Uma wanted to marry Shiva. But Daksha was not impressed with Shiva who was clad in tiger skin with ashes all over the body. Uma nevertheless married him but Daksha humiliated Shiva by not inviting Shiva in the yagna. Uma went on a fast and later died. Enraged Shiva started dancing in a frenzied manner with Uma on his shoulders which almost destroyed the universe. Narayana saved the world by cutting of Uma’s body into pieces and Shiva was pacified. Later on, Narayana revived Uma to a new life. Since then Uma accompanied by her four children visits her paternal home during autumn when Durga puja is performed.

Now, as Shiva was initially not welcomed in his in-laws place so he is not worshipped in the pandal. But to please Durga, a small idol of Shiva is placed above the idol of Durga in all pandals.

Initially when Durga puja was started, the idols had a traditional look. Idols of Ma Durga and her four children were made in a single frame called “Ekchala” which was decorated with Daaker saaj. The Daaker Saaj is a traditional decoration of idols which is made from silver foils.

Almost every where this traditional look was followed and puja was a humble affair where only devotion and dedication of the devotees mattered. With time when sarbojonin pujas (committee form) were introduced people started experimenting with Durga’s form. The separate existence of the children was emphasized and thus the ekchala gave way to separate idols being made and put in pandals. The experimentation with form and art is still continuing. But thanks to patronage of people who love the traditional look still today in some old pujas the ekchala form of goddess with traditional look can be seen.