Srimad Ramayana at Shankara Giri, Sringeri: narrating an epic through Pattachitra
- kiran kulkarni
- Jan 1, 2026
- 3 min read
Updated: 11 hours ago
The exhibition Srimad Ramayana: A Story through Pattachitra Paintings was gracefully inaugurated by the divine presence of Jagadguru Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati at Shankara Giri, Sringeri, within the sacred environs of Sringeri Sharada Peetham. His presence imbued the exhibition with spiritual depth and sanctity, affirming its purpose as more than a visual display—as a medium of cultural transmission rooted in devotion and tradition.
Curated by the Shankara Advaita Research Center and designed by Tacit, the exhibition brings the timeless narrative of the Ramayana alive through the rich visual language of Pattachitra painting, offering visitors a contemplative journey where art, history, and spirituality converge. Remarkably, the entire exhibition was conceptualized, curated, and installed in a record time of nine days, made possible through focused collaboration and shared reverence for the epic.
Curating the Ramayana as a visual narrative
At the heart of the exhibition is a carefully sequenced presentation of 83 Pattachitra paintings, drawn from the book Srimad Ramayana. Tacit developed a structured panel system that arranges the works chronologically, transforming the exhibition space into a continuous visual narrative—from the origins of the epic to its defining moments and moral climaxes.
To support this flow, the structural panel system was conceived as a simple, modular, and mobile exhibition format. The design intent was to keep the focus on content while ensuring ease of deployment. The panels are lightweight, stackable, and compact, allowing them to fit into a small carrier and be transported with ease. This makes the exhibition inherently scalable—capable of reaching villages, schools, and community spaces beyond formal institutions.
Importantly, the system can be installed within a couple of hours, with a clear and intuitive assembly logic that minimizes on-site complexity and reduces the possibility of errors. This approach allows the exhibition to be set up quickly and repeatedly, without compromising the integrity of the artworks or the narrative structure.
Living traditions: artists and demonstrations
A defining dimension of the exhibition is the presence of the Pattachitra artiste Karunakara Sahu from Odisha, whose mastery of the traditional form brings authenticity and depth to the visual narration. During the exhibition, the artiste demonstrated the painting process for visitors, offering insights into the disciplined craft traditions—natural pigments, precise line work, and narrative detailing—that define Pattachitra.
Select original paintings were also displayed, reinforcing the exhibition’s role as a celebration of a living artistic lineage rather than a static display.
Engaging young minds through participation
Recognising that epics endure through intergenerational engagement, Tacit introduced child-focused activities to make the exhibition accessible and joyful for younger audiences. A Ramayana "Vesha" Photo Booth allowed children to dress as characters from the epic, step into their roles, and capture memories—learning through play and imagination.
Complementing this was a colouring activity featuring line drawings derived from Pattachitra compositions. This hands-on exercise sensitized children to the visual grammar of the art form, encouraging early familiarity and appreciation.
The exhibition remains open to the public for a couple of months at Shankara Giri, Sringeri, allowing repeated visits and deeper engagement for devotees, families, students, and art enthusiasts alike.
A blessed confluence
For Tacit, this project has been a deeply humbling experience. To design and install an exhibition that weaves together epic narrative, traditional art, pedagogy, and spirituality within the sacred setting of Sringeri Sharada Peetham is both an honor and a blessing.
On Official Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham Website
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