Mahadevi is a reimagination of the Hindu Goddess Durga, loosely based on an illustration I submitted for an art competition in the fifth grade. Maa Durga is known for love, war and devastation, she’s fierce like the color red.

In 2007, I lived in Kolkata—the city of joy, known worldwide for its impressive colonial architecture, art museums, and cultural heritage. Time slows down when you’re in Kolkata, every chuski of chai, every snap of a biskut, every spoonful mishti doi, seems to last forever.

Durga Pooja—a ten-day celebration in honor of Goddess Durga, is the city's biggest annual festivity. Every September, the entire state of West Bengal prepares for the arrival of Maa Durga.

The Pooja is much more than a religious celebration, it has an enormous social and cultural significance, and art is at the forefront of the festivity. The sketch for this piece came together when I immersed myself in memories from over a decade ago, needless to say, Mahadevi is special.