Maa Durga With Daker Saaj
Today the aristocratic families who once established this form of worship still maintain the style of image and the traditional way of installing it within a shrine-like structure so that the home becomes similar to a temple for the duration of the festival. The goddess literally takes up residence in the family home during Durga puja and is treated like royalty. A raised dais elevates the image and sets it apart. During puja garlands of red hibiscus and orange marigolds are hung from each of the images until it is virtually obscured from view.
Most traditional families still who have images decorated with daker saj will also try and incorporate something within the image that makes it idiosyncratic. For example, this traditional Durga image blends clay with daker saj decoration and includes unusual touches such as little alcoves within the math chauni backdrop. One of these house a tiny clay image of a god while the edge of the backdrop is decorated with clay parrots and pineapples.
