Durga Puja VR virtual reality experience

Documenting living heritage

The museum’s first virtual reality experience was the Durga Puja, a celebration in honour of the Indian goddess Durga. The theme raised interesting issues such as the many meanings of ritual and celebration and the changing cultural heritage of immigrants in Finland. It was also a good opportunity to continue the cooperation with the Indian Bengali community in Finland. The Bengali community has donated to the museum its old Durga puja altar, which consists of several sculptures of gods.

The Durga Puja production illustrates the changing living cultural heritage by showcasing the annual communal celebration of the Bengali community in the capital region. The festival is celebrated today by Bengalis around the world. The experience of participation through virtual reality helps to understand the meaning of the ritual and the celebration for those who participate in it.

The project was implemented in partnership with the Bengali community in the capital region in 2017-2018, and three VR technicians, all recent graduates of Laajasalo College, were hired as technical implementers. Funding was provided by the National Board of Antiquities and the City of Espoo.