Baro Krishnayya

Ramsons Kala Pratishtana

invites you to 

Baro Krishnayya

Krishna in Art - an exhibition

on the occasion of Sri Krishna Jayanti

3 to 12 August 2012

10 am to 7 pm

at 

Pratima Gallery

Ramsons House, In front of Zoo

Mysore 570010

Bewitching smile of the toddler disarms the mother who, a moment ago, was enraged with her young one whom she had caught gorging on fistsful of earth. Yanking him off the ground she spanks the child; after much cajoling, the smiling toddler opens his mouth to reveal the entire cosmic creation within. The bedazzling vision triggers fear, scare, wonder and awe in her. Forgetting it, the very next moment, the mother in her returns and indulges every whim of the brat.

Krishna, Kanna, Kanhaiya is the child not only of Nandaraja and Yashoda but the entire hamlet of Nandagokula. His daily chores included toppling pots of curds in one house, robbing an entire day's stock of butter at another, tugging the veil off a shy lady and multitude other escapades while creating chaos with both human and simian friends. Not a day passed for Yashoda without getting embarrassed by the complaints of her lalla's mischiefs.

Inspite of being a menace in the neighbourhood, the hyperactive kid was loved dearly by one and all. If he skipped visiting a house, next day a gaudy display of butter filled pots would be arranged to lure the darling thief. Every heart pined for romance hearing the lilting strains from his flute. Everyone, including cows and other domesticated animals longed for a glimpse of young Mukunda's smiling visage. He was their darling Krishna.

Even after thousands of years since birth of Sri Krishna, Indians venerate him as a child, youth, lover,
husband, friend, teacher, statesman, philosopher and God. His birthday is a time to celebrate at millions of households across the country. At the strike of midnight on the eighth dark day of the lunar month of Shravana, rapturous applause of joy and din raises from households who are celebrating the avatara of Sri Krishna.

Every region has a unique way of celebrating Janmashtami. A cucumber symbolising the womb is cut open, when streams of red (kumkum) spill out to reveal a tiny idol of laddu gopal within the seedy red flesh of cucumber. Every year this tradition of giving birth to Krishna is enacted in households across Gangetic plains of India. Next day, favourite dishes of the dark and handsome lord are prepared and offered, a sumptuous feast follows.

In Iyengar households of Mysore, a small crib is created having an idol of infant krishna in a cradle, to whose canopy are tied fruits and umpteen sweets and savouries which are lovingly prepared for the divine toddler. A trail of little footprints are drawn or painted on floor from outside to the crib specially set up for Krishna. These footprints act as beacons to the lord of Vrindavan to enter the house and partake the love, worship and feast prepared for him.

Ramsons Kala Pratishtana is celebrating Krishna's birthday with a unique exhibition 'Baro Krishnayya'. Hundreds of figures of Krishna in various moods and pastimes and in various craft forms like traditional clay dolls, sandalwood figures, inlay panels, paintings, brass and bronze figurines, painted wooden images, marble sculptures, etc., are on display.

Come, let us welcome Krishna into our homes.

Baro Krishnayya