Calendar

Indian popular religious prints have been published for nearly a century, first by German presses, later by Indian ones. The prints may take the form of calendars, posters, or simply images. The style of the representations is European. In the beginning they were Hindu images, but are now acquiring elements both of folk art and a romantic secularism. It is a living art currently influenced by the movie industry and non-Hindu religions. The images are a vehicle for advertising and are also used for religious purposes. Unlike Hinduism, figural representations are forbidden in the Muslim religion.

calendar art; popular religious art

Ka'bah, rectangular reliquary for sacred tokens, identifies the mosque at Mecca, Masjid Al-Haram, the central Muslim holy place where devotees come together to perform public worship to Allah as God, the creator. Minaret or tower, a main element of the mosque, is used to call the faithful to prayer.

Rectangular calendar print depicting a yellow circle, centrally located, containing green-domed structure in foreground, two white towers in background, and on right, a brick structure draped in blue curtain. Below, large blue Arabic script. Surrounding yellow are twelve smaller circles in alternating green and pink. In each, a silhouette of domed or square structure with tower and Arabic script. Print's orange background has purple floral design and twelve sun ray elements extending, one from each of the twelve circles. Pink, green, purple, and orange are all subdued colours. Green lower half of print has 'A. Krishna Murthy' advertisement and calendar. Upper and lower ends are metal-edged.