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The Candana Jatra. A tank of black water studded with white flowers. On it two large boats in white and madder with raised-up ends. In the centre of each, a white shrine-like structure composed of three vertical towers tipped like lingams. On the left inside the ‘shrine’ a lithe black figure with dhoti holds a flute and gazes to the right. In the other boat, two small black figures dancing. Madder background with white flowers. Black borders with coarsely executed white flowers.

By a citrakar of Puri, Puri district, Orissa, early-nineteenth century.

Gouache and earth-colours on prepared paper; 250 by 310 mm.

Acquired by W.G. Archer from members of the painter community in a suburb of Puri, December 1933. Purchased 1974.

Note: An interpretation of the Candana Jatra, a festival held at Puri in the months of April to May when proxies of Jagannatha - images of Krishna as Madana Mohana and of four lingams - are taken to a small island with a temple in the centre of the Narendra tank where they are kept for twenty-one days. Each day the proxies are taken out in boats on the tank - the image of Krishna going in front in a boat and the four lingams following in a second boat. In the painting, the four lingams have been transformed into shrine-like structures.