States » EastPosted at: Oct 12 2026 1:27PM


From writing to worship, 13,000 pens form Durga installation in Kolkata

Kolkata, Oct 12 (UNI) In a unique blend of art, sustainability and tradition, Tridhara Sammilani has created a Durga idol using around 13,000 pens and an equal number of refills made from recycled plastic ahead of this year's Durga Puja.
The installation, conceived and created by Chandra Nath Saha, popularly known as Tilak, stands 5.5 feet tall, measures 4.5 feet in width and extends 3 feet in depth. It will be displayed alongside the pandal's main Durga idol.
Explaining what inspired him to take up the project, Saha said, "The idea of transforming something as familiar and functional as a pen into an artistic expression of Maa Durga was what drew me to the project. I found it fascinating to see how thousands of individual objects could come together to create a form that carries such cultural and emotional significance."
The project took more than 20 days to complete, involving several stages of planning, preparation and execution. A considerable amount of time went into understanding how the pens could be assembled while maintaining the proportions, structure and visual character of Maa Durga.
"The biggest challenge was understanding the material and finding a way to make thousands of individual pens work together as one sculptural form. The face was particularly demanding because the finer details had to retain Maa Durga's expression and presence, while working within the limitations of such an unconventional material," Saha shared with UNI.
The artist said there were moments of uncertainty, particularly during the initial stages when he was figuring out how the pens would come together to create a cohesive form. But once the structure began taking shape and the image of Maa Durga started emerging, it became clear to him that the material could create something quite distinctive.
He also acknowledged the support extended by the Tridhara Sammilani team, which encouraged creative direction despite the idea being unconventional and allowed Saha and his team to experiment and develop the concept at the scale they had envisioned.
Unlike the main Durga idol, which will be immersed after the Puja, the pen installation will be dismantled, allowing the materials to be recycled and used in the manufacture of new pens.
UNI NST RSA
Tags: #From writing to worship# 13#000 pens form Durga installation in Kolkata
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