Mahishasura Mardini in Kalighat by Sonali Chitrakar

This striking and beautifully composed Kailghat painting by Sonali Chitrakar explores a close-up narrative moment from the Shakta tradition, focusing on the direct confrontation between Goddess Durga and the kneeling demon king, Mahishasura. Characterized by its monumental focal figures and bold contours, the composition masterfully handles traditional sacred iconography through a vibrant folk lens.

Kalighat painting is a traditional art form that originated in the 19th century around the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata, Bengal, practiced by the Patua community. It is celebrated for its sweeping, lyrical brushstrokes, bold color fills, and a unique blend of mythological themes with satirical commentary on contemporary life. Traditionally executed with water-based pigments on paper, this style is renowned for its rapid, expressive line-work and minimalistic backgrounds that emphasize the volume and dramatic expressions of the central figures.

The composition centers on the golden-skinned Goddess Durga standing majestically in a slightly tilted posture. Her ten divine arms fan out symmetrically behind her upper torso like a radiating wheel, each hand rendered in warm orange tones and detailed with fine silver weapons and attributes outlined in white, including a bow, arrow, shankha (conch), khada (sword), spear,etc. . She holds a long white trident (trishula) vertically down her center. Her face features three large, dramatic white-rimmed eyes, a prominent nose ring, and a bright crimson lip, topped by a magnificent golden crown. She is garbed in an opulent, deep plum-colored sari decorated with alternating thick black pleat lines and a delicate, cross-hatched white lace border.

Kneeling submissively at her feet on the right is the green-skinned Mahishasura, emerging from the buffalo form, his face turned upward in profile, detailed with a thick black mustache and a silver crown. He wears an elaborate, white-hatched armor vest over a blue garment patterned with fine white motifs. Balancing the lower right corner is the forward-facing head of Durga's fierce tiger companion, rendered in bright yellow with bold black stripes and large, alert eyes. The entire narrative scene unfolds against a solid, deep maroon background highlighted by a soft blue-grey circular halo behind the goddess's head, enclosed within a thin black frame.

The artwork stands as a classic testament to the protective majesty of the divine feminine. Through her bold juxtaposition of the serene, upright goddess against the compressed, kneeling form of the demon king, Sonali Chitrakar masterfully uses the sweeping lines of the Patua tradition to deliver a visually captivating statement on spiritual triumph.

Each of our artworks are hand painted by master artists across India. We provide a digital authentication certificate with this artwork signed by the artist which will be sent over email after 3-4 days of delivery of the artwork.

View Sample Here

The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork. Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork.

Customisation

Most artworks can be customised in terms of colours, size and elements to fit your requirements.

For custom artwork orders, please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at wecare@memeraki.com to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Framing Services

No, we currently sell artworks unframed (unless explicitly mentioned otherwise) and do not provide framing services.

We ship worldwide.

Domestic Orders

All prices are inclusive of GST and applicable Indian taxes.

• We offer free shipping on orders above ₹1999 for all artworks, except Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri.
• A flat shipping rate of ₹499 applies to orders below ₹1999.

Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri

Shipping is charged on a per-kilogram basis, due to the delicate and bulky nature of these items.

International Orders

• A flat shipping charge of ₹4,000 applies to international artwork orders.
• Customs duties, taxes, or import charges in the buyer’s country are not included and must be borne by the buyer.
• Shipping rates for Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri artworks will be calculated based on weight.

Additonal Shipping Charges

Extra charges may be applicable for both domestic and international deliveries in the following cases:

• If the article requires additional packaging (such as a wooden crate) to ensure safe shipping due to its delicate nature.
• Custom-framed artworks.
• Artworks where shorter side exceeds 36 inches or Decor items with any side over 35 inches.
• If you request express shipping. Contact support to check availability.
• The order contains more than two different product types.

You can proceed with your purchase, and our team will contact you to confirm any applicable additional shipping charges before processing your order. Alternatively, reach out to us on WhatsApp or email, and we'll assist you in completing your purchase with the final pricing.

All artworks are handmade and couriered securely in transit safe packaging sutaible for the artwork.

Due to high demand for artworks from this artist, the delivery timelines are currently 1-3 weeks.

If you are on a tight deadline, please reach out to us on WhatsApp or email to discuss your requirements.

Once your order is placed, our team stays in constant communication with the artist to track the progress and ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.

All MeMeraki artworks are hand-painted. In rare occasions, artist may face delays due to weather, health, prior commitments or force majeure. Our team will reach out to you with revised timelines in case of such delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience in such situations.

All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.