Valmiki

In-Person
Pragati Sharma
Sunnyvale, California, United States
Mixed media on canvas

Diwali is the most important festival of India. It is the celebration of good over evil in the story of Ramayan. My painting shows the author of this text, Valmiki, meditating when he noticed a crane couple in love. Soon, one of the cranes is killed by a hunter's arrow. The other crane dies in agony. This disturbs Valmiki and a curse comes out of his mouth. This curse forms the basis of the rhythm of Ramayan.