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Yavatmal School of Durga Clay Sculpting
The Yavatmal School of Durga Clay Sculpting is a unique clay art tradition that is followed by clay sculptors from the Central Indian city of Yavatmal in Maharashtra. Artists use locally available red clay to make beautiful idols of the goddess Durga. The interesting element of the art is that it embodies local elements, which sets it apart in Durga idol-making.

Yavatmal Durga Utsav
The town of Yavatmal has a tradition of celebrating the festival of Navratri with great fervour. Art is an important element of it, as beyond regular worshipping rituals, people give strong impetus to artistic creations, of which the red clay idols of the goddess are noteworthy.

Many mandals in the town have been installing the goddess Durga for more than 50 years now. Each year they offer devotees pleasant experiences through various creativities. Following the footsteps of Yavatmal town, the talukas, and villages in the district have begun celebrating the nine-day festival with great interest. The number of mandals has thus risen. In 2022, the total number of mandals was 1200, while in 2023, a total of 1500 mandals made their registration.

Notable Elements
Yavatmal Durga clay sculpting stands out for its unique approach. Artists, working within a broader spiritual context, inject dynamic elements into mythological narratives. This allows them to express their creativity by depicting diverse themes. In doing so, they expand Durga's representation beyond the conventional image of a battle warrior, portraying her as a champion of causes like nature conservation, women's empowerment, and social responsibility.

In contrast to static and routine styles, the depiction of the battle between the goddess Durga and the demon king Mahishasura is teeming with energetic motion, capturing a pivotal moment in the conflict. The goddess exudes strength, wielding her weaponry with all her hands, with the unleashed snake being particularly striking. The lion, her mount, is portrayed with intense vigor. Every detail of the sculpture vividly showcases the artist's skill. In a confined space, a static scene is brought to life with dynamic flair.

Famous artists
Snehal Wankar

Ram Chavan

Dhananjay Tayade

Saleem Sheikh

Umesh Badere

Nilesh Deshmukh

Ranjana Lavhekar