22nd edition Chitra Santhe at Chitrakala Parishat attracts thousands of art lovers

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday inaugurated the 22nd edition ‘Chitra Santhe’, a platform for artists to showcase their works. This year’s event is dedicated to the girl child.

CM Siddaramaiah called on art lovers to visit the Chitra Santhe festival, buy artworks and support the artists. If people buy artworks for home decor, then organising the Chitra Santhe festival will be worthwhile, he noted.

Addressing  the event, CM Siddaramaiah said Chitra Santhe encourages artists, supports local artists and promotes Karnataka’s culture, heritage, and traditions. The event features artists from 22 states, making it a unique celebration of art and culture.

The CM expressed pride in Bengaluru hosting this event, which attracts around 4,00,000 visitors daily. Notably, this year’s Chitra Santhe is dedicated to women and girls. The event showcases outstanding personalities who had worked for women’s welfare, including Mahatma Gandhi, Ambedkar, Savitri Bai Phule, Fatima Sheikh, Kamalabai Chattopadhyay, Yashodharamma Dasappa and Dattamma, and their contributions to women’s empowerment, the CM added.

   He said that if a man is educated, it is like educating a person. If a woman is educated, it is like educating a whole family. “Girls are victims of exploitation, discrimination and injustice”, he noted. He also highlighted the state government’s initiatives, such as the Shakti and Gruha Lakshmi schemes, aimed at empowering women and girls economically and socially.

The CM further added that the preamble of the Constitution is also displayed at the Santhe, representing all sections of society. “A picture is more influential than a thousand words. People’s lives, culture, and heritage can be depicted through a picture. The Chitra Parishat is doing a good job”, he said.

From pencil sketches to oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, Mysore style, Rajasthani style, traditional and modern art forms are on display. The artworks are being sold for a minimum of Rs 100 to Rs 3-4 lakh.