The Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai is exhibiting novel and un-seen modern artworks for the show ‘Basant- Expression of Art’ by Delhi-based artist Santosh Kumar Sahni, hailing from the Mallah fishing community of Darbhanga, Bihar. Mumbaikars can take a look at these masterpieces from 23rd March -29th March at Jehangir Art Gallery, Kalaghoda, Mumbai. Don’t miss it, if modern art is what intrigues you! The artist has put up this first exhibition of paintings in Mumbai that depicts fishermen through socio-economic lenses. The paintings are thus based on the classic, dark realities of his world and number of experiences of fisherman’s life which he has closely witnessed since childhood. The show makes a strong statement on water conservation, through the vibrant Mithila colour strokes. The show ‘Basant- Expression of Art’ is on from 23rd March till 29th March at Jehangir Art Gallery, Kalaghoda, Mumbai.

The inauguration saw noted personalities from art scene like Businessman & Art Collector Parvez Damania, Eminent Artist Prithvi Soni, and Ajoykaant Ruia, Chairman- Allstate Group. Parvez Damania shared, ‘What I found interesting and a common factor between the exhibition and Parsis is that we also love fish, and find it auspicious. The knowledge about the artist and the community which he belongs to was an eye opener and also the concept of water conservation is also nicely explained through the artwork’.

Ajoykant Ruia said, ‘The works are beautiful, the color schemes are reminiscent of Mithila painting making them unique and I wish he would continue doing this good work.’

“The subject of my painting is based on fisherman and their socio-economic, socio-cultural life. I find myself at ease with these subjects as being from a fisherman family. I have had number of experiences of fisherman’s life which reflects in my paintings, these experiences enriched me as a person”, says the artist Santosh Kumar Sahni from Bihar.

In this show, ‘Basant- Expression of Art’, the mermaid, fisherwoman and their lives which exist in his paintings are nothing but his muse which is composed of woman and fish, which are very attractive, and fickle in nature. The boat and fishing net of fisherman is just not means of earning but have importance beyond description.

Some of the notable works to watch out for are, ‘Gajgamini’, ‘Shakti’, ‘Lifeboat’, ‘Kashti’, ‘Janani’, ‘Sneh’ and more. The artist says, “My paintings are not just brush strokes or blend of colours on canvas. But it is a convenient medium for me to establish, harmony, increase love, sacrifice, peace, beauty, spirituality and creative development in all the strata of society. I closely observed and encountered the various experience of life, truth, ugliness of these fishermen society. I felt the pangs of their hardships and Joy of their spirits, their struggles to make both ends meet. Despite life snatching struggle, they adapt themselves to every situation of life or seasons like sultering and scorching heat, downpour, cold etc. They survive with pride by defeating man- made or destiny- made hurdles. They earn their bread & butter through various means like fisheries, Makhana (fox nuts) production and many other works”.

Beauty of mermaid is incredible and looks like a nymph; on the other hand fisherman appears rigid and rough. He further adds, “My subjects also show the contradictions of this world and all the universal elements whether the life of man, mermaid or someone else. Somehow, every living being is striving for to prove his existence. I have made efforts to reflect rural life as well as to address the problem of urban life. My journey of colour and brush, also includes the urban-public life issues with subtleness on the subject namely absolution, spiritual realization and surreal fantasy”. 

His works have been exhibited in the past in several notable group shows in countries like Australia, Bangkok, Canada, Los Angeles, Nepal, France, New York, San Jose and Moscow.

March 20, 2021 is a very special day for Parsis in India who are people of Iranian descent. It’s the start of a 13-day long, 3000-year tradition called Novruz. Parsi Novruz is the day of the vernal equinox and marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. More accurately, the exactly calculated moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is marked as the first day of Novruz in the Iranian calendar, and that is why Nowruz is celebrated at different times of the day or night, with families gathered to observe the rituals together.

A superstition about Novruz is that one must be at his or her best at the time of Sal Tahvil; otherwise, he or she will be having an unlucky time throughout the year.  Another common, Novruz superstition is actually tied to the Chinese zodiac tradition of assigning an animal to each year in a twelve-year cycle. This year, which is 1400 on the Iranian calendar, is the Year of the Ox, and many are relieved to see the end of the tragic and chaotic Year of the Rat. In many cultures, the ox has positive imagery and is considered an animal of strength that is associated with harvests and fertility, and according to astrologers, the ox symbolizes hard work, positivity, and honesty.

Novruz is UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, first inscribed on the list in 2009 through the initiative of Iran and joint cooperation of Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. The case was later extended in 2016 to include five more countries – Afghanistan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.   Many countries along the Silk Road, such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, celebrate Nowruz, and the rite is not exclusive to one culture or religion.

Here is a list of activities for Navroz

House cleaning is done a few days before spring.  

Chaharshanbe Suri, which falls on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year, and includes jumping over bonfires while singing ‘My sickly yellow paleness is yours; your fiery red color is mine.’

Going to the cemetery on the last Thursday of the old year to remember the ones who have passed away.

New Year shopping to buy outfits to wear for the entirety of the 13-day long holidays.

Haft-sin (The Seven S’s), a traditional table setting that symbolizes life, fertility, and love as a whole, and requires all members of the family to gather around the moment the new year begins. The Seven S’s are:

1. Seeb (apple); symbol of beauty and love
2. Seer (garlic); symbol of health
3. Serkeh (vinegar) symbol of progress and change
4. Somaq (sumac); symbol of patience
5. Samanu (sweet pudding); symbol of abundance
6. Sabzeh (sprouts); symbol of rebirth
7. Senjed (Persian olive) symbol of stability and strength

Eid Didani, or an intensive period of visiting the relatives.

Eidi is the money one receives from the people one goes to for ‘Eid Didadni’.

Travelling is a perfect excuse for ditching the whole ‘eid didani’ tradition.

New Year Cuisine is the regular food which tastes better during Novruz. They include Ash-e reshteh (a noodle soup), Kuku sabzi (herbs and vegetable soufflé) served for dinner on New Year’s, Reshteh polow (rice cooked with noodles), Sabzi polow with fish, and dolma (cooked vegetables, meat and rice rolled in grape leaves).

Sizdah bedar is the last day of Nowruz holidays that falls on the 13th of Farvardin, and the number is considered to bring bad luck in Persian folklore. The idea of Sizdah bedar (literally, Thirteen Outdoor) is to spend time picnicking outdoors, and throwing away your Sabzeh because it is considered a bad omen to still have it when the Novruz holidays are over.