February 12, 2002
`19’ ‘PHOTO EXHIBITION - LIVING GODS ON EARTH’ BY DR. CORNELIA MALLEBREIN, A GERMAN PHOTOGRAPHERA Photo Exhibition ‘ Living Gods on Earth-Indian Folk and Tribal Tradition’ by German Photographer Dr. Cornelia Mallebrein was inaugurated by Minister of Textiles, Mr. Kashiram Rana at Crafts Museum, New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said – this photo exhibition will provide a decisive understanding into the rituals and folk practices in the traditional rural and tribal setting as it is covered through photography and other visual objects from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa. He emphasized that while in the present time, the problems and sorrows of human lives are in the hands of highly paid specialists, the ‘ Living Gods on Earth’ combine the various functions of these specialists in themselves because, for the devotees, the divine eyes detect every thing, nothing can be kept secret or concealed. Moreover, for devotees the Almighty does not stay in heaven only. He descends on earth, mixes in the living bodies and most important in human beings, who is in an altered state of consciousness becomes a living god on earth.
The Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Mr. S.B.Mahapatra said that the Indian Folk culture is very rich and the Traditions are based on it. India is a vast country with diverse cuts, traditions and crafts. Despite many challenges faced by Indian civilisation, its culture remained intact which is reflected through the rich heritage of craftsmanship of the country.
The Ambassador of Germany, His Excellency Mr. Heimo Richter, while addressing the gathering said that Germans are influenced by Indian culture and are taking immense interest in its crafts, traditions, culture and folk art. He stressed that the cultural ties between the two countries should be further strengthened.
The Exhibition ‘Living Gods on Earth’ is divided into four chapters highlighting characteristic topics from Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Karnataka and Orissa. The first chapter is called ‘The Primordial Divine Power- its visible manifestation in the human realm’. ‘The self created stone’ – where the deity is in the form of a self created stone and by touching this stone, divine energy flows.The other three chapter – ‘Embodiment of the divine on earth’ ‘Empowered by the wind of God’ and ‘Communicating with inhabitants of the other world’ focus on important tribal traditions and cuts in Chattisgarh, Orissa, Bastar, Karnataka.
The Photographer, Dr. Cornelia Mellebrien has studied Indian history and culture classical Indian Art and Anthropology in the University of Munich and has done her Ph.D. in Indology and history of Religion from University of Tuebingen.