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.

calendar art; popular religious art

Flute and peacock feather on top of head are distinct attributes of the Hindu god, Krishna, a pastoral type character who does super-human deeds and knows the thoughts of everyone. He is pictured with Radha ('gopi' or cowgirl and Krishna's greatest love). Together they are associated with intense romance. Stories about them are set in everyday circumstances, with an emphasis on female beauty and the pleasures of physical love. The stories have a secular and religious content conveying spiritual insight. Krishna's relationship with Radha offends and transcends conventional morality.

Rectangular calendar print depicting Krishna and Radha seated in a forest scene. Radha wears a pink sari with a blue sash around waist. She is adorned with gold jewelry worn on her forehead, ears, neck, and wrists. Her hand on left holds a large gold container. Krishna wears a red and gold sash with a yellow dhoti. He is adorned with a gold headdress with peacock feather stuck in it, a long white and green floral garland around neck, and gold jewelry on ears, neck, upper arms, wrists, and fingers. He holds with both hands a long gold flute with a tassel at end. Black inscriptions in both upper and lower left hand corners of print.