Christmas in Memorial Roerichs Estate
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Joyful children’s voices marked the day of Christmas 25th December 2021 in Memorial Roerichs Estate. Children of the International Roerich Memorial Trust’s team and kids of Naggar and surrounding villages came running to the IRMT since morning in waiting for the traditional celebration and Christmas gifts.
The children were met by Santa Claus or, in Russian tradition, Grandfather Frost. He became the Chief Guest of the exhibition that was opened at that day in the Exhibition Hall of the IRMT. Together with Mr. Ramesh Chandra and Ms. Larisa Surgina, Indian and Russian Curators of International Roerich Memorial Trust the lovely Christmas Guest cut the ribbon and artists from Dharamshala (India, Himachal Pradesh) cheerfully greeted the guests and visitors of the Roerich Trust at their exhibition.
Ms. Rashmi Nag and Ms. Monika Bhardwaj represent artistic union “Kalpvrish Art House” whose primary objective is to maintain, develop and popularize the richest art traditions of different states of India. The paintings featured at the exhibition (most of them are painted by the head of the Art House Ms. Rashmi Nag) got the visitors acquainted with the following ancient art forms: Madhubani Art, Pattachitra Art and Kerala Mural Art.
Madhubani Art was born in Bihar. Its themes address to Hindu Gods and mythology, scenes of courtly life, rituals, weddings, and religious festivals. The pictures are painted with fingers, twigs, brushes, feather, and matches using natural pigments. This style is defined by filling space with images of flowers, animals, birds and nice geometric patterns.
Pattachitra – ancient art of painting on fabric specific for Odisha. Initially it was created for temples rituals. Pattachitra is a part of antique Bengal declarative art being visual instrument for singing. Art form of Pattachitra is notable for complex details enhancing mythological and fairy stories.
Kerala Mural Art is a unique style of art. The first murals of Kerala are dated back to the 8th century AC. In the beginning mural artwork was applied directly onto walls, ceilings and other architectural elements of temples and palaces. They talked about ancient Gods and Goddesses. The artists used natural pigments preferring saffron-red, saffron-yellow, green, red, white, blue, black, yellow and golden-yellow.
Today the trend has shifted from wall murals to those painted on canvas and paper but the painters still reproduce age-old themes and choose bright expressive colors. No wonder Ms. Rashmi and Ms. Monika called their exhibition “Colors of India”.
That colorful and intensive exhibition was met with great interest and warm response of the visitors; it has become the beginning of long term cooperation of the International Roerich Memorial Trust and artistic union “Kalpvrish Art House.”
Christmas celebration continued near the Green Theatre of the IRMT. Teachers of Helena Roerich Academy of Arts with young guests of the IRMT sang a song-prayer to Goddess Sarasvati, the patroness of knowledge and arts. Then children were coming to the stage where the Christmas Tree was gaily decorated. They sang songs, declaim poems, danced with friends. The Christmas day was long and joyful and every child received attention and a gift from real Santa Claus or Grandfather Frost.
