By Anishka Gogoi

On May 18th, Deepti Designs represented themselves as the community partner of Acme Foundation for their annual Natya Utsav, a celebration of Indian dance!

For this event, our studio's youth artists showcased their artwork to a wider audience and shared the intricacies of Madhubani art.

Deepti Designs is thankful to work with Acme Foundation and spread awareness of the beauty of all the forms of art India has to offer, whether it is through paintings or dance!

By Anvika Bheemarasetty

Recently, Ms. Deepti Agrawal received the amazing opportunity to be a guest lecturer for the 5th-semester students at Rashtriya Mithila Chitrakala Sansthan, the only registered college focused completely on Madhubani painting, located in Darbhanga, right in the center of the Mithila region.

From the moment she walked into the classroom, she was welcomed with warmth and excitement. The students were super engaged and participated enthusiastically in the interactive games she led, which made the whole session feel fun, creative, and meaningful.

What made the day even more special was that two legends of Madhubani art—Padma Shri awardees Baua Devi and Dulari Devi—were in the audience. Having them there, supporting and appreciating the lecture, was a truly unforgettable moment for Ms. Agrawal.

The whole experience was not just about teaching, but about sharing, connecting, and celebrating this beautiful form of traditional Indian art that continues to inspire artists of all ages.

By Mahima K.

On May 24th, Deepti Designs was provided the opportunity to give a lecture on Madhubani art at the prestigious Northwest Folklife Festival in the SIFF Film Center. At the event, Ms. Deepti Agarwal delivered an inspiring presentation about the many ways in which Madhubani art is impacting the lives of people around the globe, both fiscally and emotionally. 

Subsequently, student artists Jahnavi and Manavi Shukla, Mahima Kolar, and Sanika Kabbur delivered speeches about pieces of their own artwork and detailed the many ways in which Madhubani art impacted them personally. 

These speeches and stories were not only engaging, but they also provided others with insight into how, to paraphrase Ms. Agarwal herself, "a folk art from the interiors of Bihar can impact real people around the world today." 

Both audience members and volunteers thoroughly enjoyed the experience of exploring the power of traditional art, and hopefully, we will get another chance to do this event next year!

By Anvika Bheemarasetty

On May 24, Deepti Designs had the opportunity to host an interactive booth at the Northwest Folklife Festival at Seattle Center, highlighting the beauty of Madhubani art. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages engaged in creative, hands-on activities, including coaster making, bookmark decorating, henna, and experienced live painting up close. These activities not only introduced attendees to traditional Indian folk art but also created an open and welcoming space for people of all ages.

The booth was entirely volunteer-run, with student artists leading activities, guiding participants, and sharing the significance behind each painting and design. Thank you to Guhan, Oumsri, Mahitha, Anvitha, Arianna, Saisha, Sameera, and Kaira for all being a part of this event! The experience was both fun and meaningful, and we hope to return to this event next year.

By Manavi Shukla

Last month, we got invited to a very special event: The HSS Gurupurnima! We were invited by Hindu Swayansevak Singh for their Guru Vandana Event. 

Gurupurnima is a beautiful tradition dedicated to honoring the teachers and mentors who have guided and shaped us throughout our lives. It was a privilege to take part in this celebration by sharing Madhubani art as a way to pay tribute to these incredible individuals.  

Some of our artists volunteered there at a pop-up show to help many teachers create their own Madhubani keepsakes. If you didn’t have the opportunity to come to this event, here are some pictures!