By: K. N. Wasif, YaHind.Com
Riyadh, November 5, 2025 – Art, culture, sculpture, and architecture in India are as ancient as the nation’s history itself. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the fine arts course through the veins of Indians. Our ancient temples, caves, and historical buildings stand as living testimonials to this legacy. Numerous universities across the country offer diploma and degree courses in painting, sculpture, and more. Even in Riyadh, the city boasts countless art galleries where artists display and sell their masterpieces. Additionally, homegrown institutions like Synergy Art Hub have been established here, providing foundational painting classes and workshops to guide women interested in painting, sculpture, and related arts.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh’s ongoing “Pravasi Parichay” series serves as a vibrant platform to showcase our religious, civilizational, and cultural traditions. It allows residents from various Indian states to observe and gain familiarity with each other’s local customs and heritage.
Painting, being an integral part of our ancient traditions, holds a special place in the Embassy’s Pravasi Parichay program. To highlight this art form, the Embassy organizes a dedicated painting exhibition within a specially erected pavilion on its premises. The Riyadh Embassy invites resident painters to showcase their works. This year’s coordinator is Mrs. Manoja Mohammed Thain.
According to senior painter Mrs. Smita R. Nair, who participated in the exhibition, 12 artists took part, with 11 being women. The exhibiting painters included Almas Imam Jaffar Ali, Anupama, Jikson Jose, Kirthiga Prabu, Nilofer Fatima, Nooriya Sham, Puran Silla, Rashmi M. Dongaonkar, Roopali Manish Bodhmage, Smita R. Nair, Suja Prasanth, and Susmitha Dhruva Chitradurga. The displayed artworks featured a diverse range, including abstracts, Indian folk art, and landscapes, created using oil paints and alcohol ink techniques.
It’s worth noting that on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence celebrations – “Amrit Mahotsav” – the Indian Embassy in Riyadh had previously hosted an exhibition featuring works by internationally renowned Indian painter Mrs. Sabeeha Majid Siddiqui, alongside select prominent Saudi artists. This event symbolized the strengthening cultural ties between India and Saudi Arabia.
In essence, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh remains committed to the growth and promotion of Indian art and culture. The growing enthusiasm for painting among women in Riyadh is a direct outcome of the Embassy’s patronage and support.
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