A seven-day painting exhibition and workshop on “Apni Virasat” (Our Heritage) is being organized from November 19 to 25 at Gurudham Mandir in Varanasi. This exhibition displays works of artists from Varanasi as well as other neighbouring cities.
It was delightful to watch a collection of paintings and installations done by young artists in the heritage of Kashi, one the oldest city in India. This program is being organized by Subhash Chandra Yadav (regional officer) Regional Archaeological Unit, Varanasi U.P State archaeological (department of culture, the government of U.P) and coordinated by Dr Uttama Dixit, one of the known Varanasi based artist motivated the participants.
She believes that these young artists are the future and through their artwork can bring the change and this workshop will work as the window for the world to see the heritage of Varanasi. This exhibition has about 60 artworks introduces the visitor to a variety of art styles on the topic World Heritage Week. Active participation of artists Neha Verma, Sunil Patel, Sonu Kumar, Sandeep Prajapati, Ajay Prakash, Deepti Sharma, Anand Gaurav, Avneesh Mishra was appreciative.
The purpose of the exhibition is to promote and create awareness of precious heritage and support its conservation. These artists tried to depict different facets of Varanasi, its several aspects. There ghats, temple domes, narrow lanes , florescent clothed sadhus, heritages like Vishwanath Temple, Sarnath Stupa, music etc. Lemon pepper is one of the ways of empiricism. The artist conveys the message from the installation to protect our botanical heritage from evil eyes that destroyed it and have to preserve them. Classic story “ Idgah ” by renowned writer Premchand was also depicted through installation.
Heritage is the full range of our inherited traditions, monuments, objects and culture. In this program, the main focus is on the heritage of Kashi, which has been the cultural centre of northern India for several years and it closely associated with the Ganges. The holy city of Varanasi attracts pilgrims from far and wide. Pilgrims come to the Ganges here to wash away sins in the sacred waters to cremate their loved ones or simply die here hoping to liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
Each of the Varanasi monument has a class and history of its own like Ram Nagar Fort, ghats of Varanasi, Vishwanath Temple, Bharat Mata Mandir, Durga Mandir, Tomb of Lal Khan , etc. Sarnath is the most amazing place where Chaukhandi Stupa, Dhamekh Stupa, Ashok Pillar etc. Abode of art, culture, religious hub and lord Shiva , Kashi is known as a full museum of Indian art and culture. Varanasi is known as streets and temples. World-famous for literature, art and music because this city has actually given many famous philosophers, poets, writers, artists and musicians to the world, who have left their mark in the respective field of activity.
The Banaras Gharanas of Hindustani classical music was born and developed in Varanasi itself. Notable artists (musicians and dancers) and historians who are connected with the city include Bismilla Khan, Ravi Shanker, Girija Devi, Gopal Shankar Misra, Gopi Krishna, Kishan Maharaj, Sitara Devi etc. Renowned Indian writers like Kabir Das, Ravidas, Tulsidas, Acharya Shukla , Baldev Upadhyaya, Bhartendu Harishchandra, Devaki Nandan Khatri, Hazari Prashad Dwivedi, Jaishankar Prasad etc. And this does not end here there are numerous festivals and they are unique in their own way and mains are Maha Shivratri, Nag Nathaiya, Ganga Mahotsav, etc.
There are so many things, tradition, monuments, art and culture of Varanasi which is incredible and peerless. A combination of archaeology, mythology, geography, art and history makes Varanasi a great centre of Indian culture. And yes, no one can ignore interesting facet of Kashi, where one gets to enjoy Banarasi pans, Thandai, gamcha, wooden toys, boat ride and mauj masti. Kashi equally celebrates life and death. Walking down the narrow lanes, breathing historic air is like a celebration of its ghats, lanes, food, religion etc. this oldest city narrates its story through its heritage. Every facet of Varanasi never fails to fascinate anyone.
