Durga Maa - A Kaalighat Style Painting Workshop

Pratikrut Collective × KultureKatta

🌺 Durga Maa – A Kaalighat Style Painting Workshop

This Navratri, step into the vibrant world of Bengal’s Kaalighat folk art, an expressive style born in the 19th century near Kolkata’s Kalighat temple. Known for its bold lines, flowing brushwork, and motifs that blend sacred imagery with everyday life, Kaalighat is both heritage and storytelling on paper.

Workshop Details

Medium: Natural dyes made from stones & minerals on eco-friendly cowdung paper (8×8 inches)

Motifs Covered: Flowers, birds, fishes, vines, leading up to a complete Durga Maa painting.

Why You Should Attend - Guided by Pratiti Nadkar of Pratikrut Collective, you will:

🖌️ Paint motifs like flowers, birds, and vines that form the foundation of Kaalighat art.

🌺 Complete your final artwork — a Durga Maa painting, the divine feminine in her most powerful form.

🌿 Work with natural dyes on eco-friendly cowdung paper, a sustainable medium rooted in tradition.

📏 Create on a 8 x 8 inch canvas, perfect for displaying or gifting as your own cultural keepsake.

🎨 No prior experience needed — this workshop is designed for beginners, seekers, and art lovers alike.

What We’re Trying to Achieve

This workshop is more than a painting session—it’s part of a larger mission. Together, Pratikrut Collective and KultureKatta aim to:

Preserve and revive endangered Indian folk traditions.

Create intimate, hands-on cultural experiences in urban spaces.

Inspire participants to see art not only as creativity but as storytelling, devotion, and heritage.

Build a community of cultural ambassadors who keep these traditions alive in contemporary life.

By attending, you’re not just painting—you’re joining a movement that honors India’s folk legacy while bringing it meaningfully into today’s world.

About Kaalighat Folk Art

Kaalighat painting originated in the 19th century in the lanes around Kalighat temple in Kolkata. Known for its bold brushwork, expressive figures, and flowing motifs, it moved traditional religious art into a popular, accessible form. Themes ranged from gods and goddesses (like Durga Maa) to everyday life, satire, and social commentary. Its unique mix of sacred motifs and fluid lines later influenced modern Indian art.

About the Artist – Pratiti Nadkar

Pratiti Nadkar is the founder of Pratikrut Collective, an initiative dedicated to reviving and celebrating India’s folk and tribal art forms. Having traveled extensively and studied from traditional masters, she brings authenticity, sustainability, and storytelling into her workshops. Her expertise lies not just in the technique of art but in making heritage alive, relatable, and hands-on for modern seekers.

About Pratikrut Collective

Pratikrut Collective is a movement to reconnect people with India’s cultural roots. Through immersive art workshops, they revive traditional practices, using natural materials such as stone-and-mineral pigments, cowdung paper, and eco-friendly media. Each session is designed as both a learning and reflective experience, honoring crafts that are at risk of fading away.

About KultureKatta

KultureKatta is a vibrant cultural venture that curates intimate gatherings—“kattas”—around art, music, literature, and heritage. From cafés to studios to public spaces, it makes culture hyperlocal and accessible. Every workshop becomes a space for mindful exploration, conversation, and creativity, building a strong community of culture-seekers.

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