Golden Chandmala

A golden brass chandmala to adorn the pratima of the Devi: three embossed medallions bearing মা (Maa), joined by chains and finished with three drop pendants. About 40 inches long and made in West Bengal, it is hung on a large murti, its backdrop or the home mandir for Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Lakshmi Puja and every festival of the Mother. Unlike the traditional shola chandmala, brass keeps its form and shine, so it can adorn the Devi year after year.

What is a chandmala?

The chandmala (চাঁদমালা), literally the “garland of moons”, is the garland of round medallions that hangs on the pratima in the Bengali tradition, most famously on Maa Durga during Durga Puja. It is traditionally made of shola pith by the Malakar craftsmen of Bengal and is part of the Devi’s shringar, the adornment offered to her along with her ornaments and vastra. This chandmala carries the same form in brass, with the word মা, Mother, at the heart of each medallion.

Quick facts

• Material: brass, in a golden finish
• Design: three round medallions embossed with মা (Maa) in a lotus-petal border, joined by chains, with three diamond-shaped drops
• Length: about 40 inches (100 cm), from the top loop to the bottom drops
• Hanging: chain loop at the top
• Weight: about 800 g
• Made in: West Bengal
• Origin: India

How it is used

• Durga Puja: hung on the pratima or its chalchitra (backdrop) as part of Maa Durga’s shringar
• Kali, Lakshmi and Jagaddhatri Puja: adorning the murti or altar of the Devi
• Home mandir: hung beside or above the deity as a lasting decoration
• Pandal and festival decoration: on the pandal, the doorway or the puja space during Navratri and Durga Puja

Brass or shola?

A shola chandmala is light and beautiful but fragile, and is usually replaced every year. A brass chandmala holds its shape, can be cleaned, and can be used again at every puja, which makes it suited to a home mandir or a pratima that is worshipped all year.

Care

• Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after use and store it dry.
• Brass naturally darkens over time. To restore its shine, clean it with pitambari powder, or with tamarind or lemon, then rinse and dry fully.
• Avoid harsh detergents and steel scrubbers, which scratch the surface.

Frequently asked questions

What is a chandmala used for?

A chandmala is hung on the pratima of the Devi, or on its backdrop, as part of her shringar. It is most associated with Maa Durga during Durga Puja, and is also used for Kali, Lakshmi and Jagaddhatri Puja and in the home mandir.

What is written on the chandmala?

Each medallion bears মা (Maa), the Bengali word for Mother, the name by which the Devi is called in Bengal.

Is this chandmala made of brass?

Yes. It is made of brass in a golden finish, so unlike a shola chandmala it can be cleaned and reused year after year.

How big is the chandmala?

It is about 40 inches (100 cm) long from the top loop to the bottom drops, and weighs about 800 g. At this size it suits a large Durga or Kali pratima, a pandal, or a tall home mandir.

How do I clean a brass chandmala?

Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth after use. If it darkens, clean it with pitambari powder, or tamarind or lemon, then rinse and dry fully.