Access The Invisible
by Mircea Sorin Albutiu
portfolio special mention call 'Urbanautica Institute Awards 2023', 2023
Category: Anthropology and Territories
Devotion, darsan, worship, protocol, blessings, temples, senses, deities, gods.
Since thousands of years, millions of garlands are made every day and sold in the Indian markets at evening. There are certain flowers with different qualities offered to the deities every night to please them, to show the devotion and to gain blessings.
Every deity has a favourite flower. Shiva loves Dhatura, goddess Kali likes Red Hibisus, Vishnu loves Parijata, while Lotus is the favourite of Shri Lakshmi. Shri Ganesha loves the Red Marigold and Shri Saraswati likes Palash while Krishna likes Tulsi.
I focus on the withered garlands from the next morning when people put them in a specific place, on water, on a tree, in a bag hanged on a wall or wherever they feel like. These garlands are called “nirmalya”. Their colours and fragrances are mixed again in the streets, composing the entire spectrum of religions through the symphony of the nirmalyas. They are ubiquitous and became my guides in the streets of India.
also from Urbanautica Institute Awards 2023