Grade 11
My name is Mahathi, and I have been practicing Madhubani art for over 6 years now. When I started learning about Madhubani, I was very intrigued by this art style. But as I progressed in this art form, I could feel myself growing and feeling more confident about myself. Madhubani art has brought me closer to my culture. I now know things about Indian culture that I didn't know before learning this art. The reason for my deeper connection with Indian culture is that whenever I paint something (whether it's a god/goddess, or a story), it feels as if I'm re-experiencing what I'm painting. This experience has played a role in building who I am today.
This painting depicts the story of Gajendra Moksham, which conveys the message of surrender. In this story, the elephant king, Gajendra, and his family were wandering through the forest in search of water and eventually come across a lake. When they see this, the family get excited and starts playing in the water, causing a crocodile to get annoyed and grab Gajendra's leg. and they both fight of over 100 years. Towards the end of their fight, Gajendra becomes exhausted and prays to lord Vishnu to save him.Â