Your chance to stare down a god: inside the British Museum's mesmerising look at Indian religions

"It's the eyes that stay with you... As Sushma Jansari explains, it's not surprising that the eyes have it. Making direct eye contact, getting a glimpse (or darshan) of the divine, is the whole point."

"For devotees, staring down a god isn't sacrilegious...it's a source of comfort and connection, and a way to ask for help."

"Jansari has devised Ancient India: Living Traditions, a mesmerising exhibition that explores the roots of the country's major homegrown religions: Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism."

"The power of these encounters can transcend religious boundaries... whatever your faith, when you see a devotional object, it can really affect you."

The article highlights the powerful connection between spirituality and daily life in Mumbai, a bustling metropolis regarded as 'the city of dreams.' The narrative focuses on the sacred experience of encountering the goddess Mumba at her temple, which serves as a central spiritual anchor amidst the city's vibrancy. Sushma Jansari, curator of the British Museum's exhibition 'Ancient India: Living Traditions,' eloquently discusses the importance of eye contact with devotional statues, emphasizing how such interactions foster a deep sense of comfort across different faiths and religions.

Read at www.theguardian.com