Myths of Bengal
14 September 2006 – 7 January 2007
Room 91
Exhibition closed
Part of the Voices of Bengal season
Myths of Bengal focuses on the
tradition of storytelling in Bengal, and features religious stories
presented in the remarkable Bengali scrolls and artefacts from the
Museum's collection. A major highlight is the 13-metre Gazi scroll,
which recounts the life and deeds of the local Bengali Muslim saint
Gazi.
This remarkable artefact celebrates the traditional Bengali
custom of scroll painting and highlights the huge importance of
oral tradition in Bengali culture. Six other stories explored in
the exhibition cover some of the major Hindu deities, including
Krishna, Rama, Durga, and the local snake goddess Manasa.
Supported by the Mayor of London
Image: Detail from the Gazi scroll. From
Bengal, perhaps the Murshidabad district, India, around AD 1800