Surat witnesses history ahead of Ram Temple consecration

I have attempted to showcase the devotion towards Lord Ram and Mother Sita in my heart in the form of henna on the hands of other devotees of Lord Ram: Nimisha Parekh

Surat (Gujarat) [India], January 20: Ahead of the grand consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya next week, a historic incident has taken place in Surat. Even as devotees of Lord Ram are showcasing their devotion through various events in the run-up to the historic occasion, a unique event painted everyone in the colours of devotion and festivities using the mesmerising beauty of henna (mehndi). In a ground breaking fusion of tradition and artistry, renowned henna artist Nimisha Parekh has represented 51 notable incidents from Ramayana on the hands of 51 women of Surat using the magical medium of henna in the form of Warli Art.

The Ram idol is being installed in the Ram Temple in the Lord’s birthplace after a struggle of more than 500 years.

In the words of Nimisha Parekh, “Ramayana is an unparalleled and unique text of the Indian culture and emphasises the ideals of society, human values and ethics. We had the opportunity to visit the under-construction Ram Temple complex in August last year and were impressed by its grandeur. It was then that the idea to recreate important events from the Ramayana in the form of henna art took birth. As the idea became clearer, we decided to represent the events using henna in the unique form of Warli Art.”

The famed artist said giving shape to the concept and transforming it into reality was a thrilling experience. She and her team presented 51 events, including the birth of Lord Ram, his childhood, Sita Swayamvar, exile, Sita’s abduction, Lord Ram’s meeting with Hanuman, the coronation of Sugriva, the war with Ravan, and the Lord’s coronation as Ayodhya King, in the henna art on the hands of 51 women from Surat.

“I have attempted to showcase the devotion towards Lord Ram and Mother Sita in my heart in the form of henna on the hands of other fellow devotees of Lord Ram,” says Nimisha Parekh.

She further said that Warli Art is a traditional art practised by tribal communities from Maharashtra and Gujarat. The traditional artworks beautifully depict harvesting season, and special occasions such as marriages, festivities, childbirth, etc. The occasion of marriage occupies a special place when it comes to Warli artworks, which are considered to be auspicious and represent the spirit of happiness.

While Warli is a traditional art, the credit for blending henna with it goes to Nimisha Parekh. The innovative concept has garnered her recognition in the US, UK and other countries.

The henna artist further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government are striving for the uplift of the tribal communities, and it is a matter of great pride for her to present the traditional tribal heritage and art in a new form by etching important events from Ramayana using henna ahead of the consecration of the Ram Temple.

“The objective of my initiative is to instil values of Indian culture among today’s young and cultivate an understanding of the ideals of Lord Ram in them. It is also our objective to preserve and promote the traditional Warli art and to showcase henna not just as a means of adornment, but also as a symbol of women’s respect, love and happiness,” she said.

It is worth noting that this is possibly the first time that important events from Ramayan and key characters such as Lord Ram, Mother Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman, Ravan, Vibhishan, and many more have been depicted using henna. As Surat witnesses this historic depiction on the hands of its women, it marks a momentous occasion of cultural celebration and devotion.

For more information, please contact:

Nimisha Parekh: (M) 93749 39396