Paper short abstract:

The paper looks at ways in which Goddess Durga and her festivals has been the focus to make connections between Adivasi and castes, Rajas and administrators, industrialists and migrants – bringing up material overlaps, i.e. the goddess in iron and earthen forms in a mining area.

Paper long abstract:

The paper looks at ways in which Goddess Durga and her festivals (primarily Durga Puja and Dasara) has been instrumental and has been used to make connections between various groups: Adivasi and first settlers, Rajas and administrators, industrialists and migrants - bringing up intriguing material overlaps, i.e. the goddess in iron and earthen forms in an area known for iron ore mining and its concomitant promises of development and threats to livelihoods.

Multiple manifestations of the goddess(es) are worship and help negotiating alliances as well as processes of localisation and resistance.