Art & Insights: Godna Painting and The God
Art & Insights: Online Lecture Series
GODNA PAINTING AND THE GOD: PERCEPTION AND PERSPECTIVE
January 10, 2026 | 9:30 pm IST | 11 am EST
Duration: 90 minutes | Number of sessions: 3
Centre for Creativity, Folkartopedia Foundation, Patna, in collaboration with Creative Mithila, USA, presents the inaugural session of its Art and Insights online lecture series titled “Godna Painting and the God: Perception and Perspectives.” The lecture will be held on January 10 at 9:30 PM IST (India) and 11:00 AM EST (USA).
The session will last 90 minutes.
This session is organised under the Art & Education Program of the Centre of Creativity, Folkartopedia Foundation and will feature insights by Sunil Kumar, Director, Folkartopedia, with Nupur Nishith of Creative Mithila, USA, moderating the discussion. The lecture explores the agnostic, cultural, and visual dimensions of Godna painting, a traditional tattoo-based art form, focusing on how the profane is now spiritual in beliefs, systems, and symbolism.
The lecture also marks the official announcement of the Centre for Creativity’s Virtual Classes, scheduled to commence on March 8, 2026. These expert-led virtual programs will emphasise the balance between traditional authenticity and artistic intervention, encouraging deeper engagement with colour, form development, and symbolic representation. The objective is to strengthen artistic understanding and enable contemporary expression grounded in folk and traditional art practices.
Through a dedicated team of specialists, Folkartopedia Foundation reaffirms its commitment to nurturing traditional and folk arts while fostering informed innovation, dialogue, and creative growth.
Know the speaker: Sunil Kumar | Moderator: Nupur Nishith
The lecture is designed in three sessions. The first session will focus on the journey of Godna painting in Bihar and the perception prevailing in contemporary times. The second session will explore Godna painting from the perspective of Raja Salhesh’s character. This part will examine the interpretation of Raja Salhesh as the folklord of the Dalit community and his metamorphosis as the Dalit God. The third session will have concluding remarks by the participants.
Session 1:
Introduction of Godna painting in Bihar: History and The Perception today
Introduction of Folklore Raja Salhesh and its charecters
Time: 9:30 pm – 10:10 pm IST | 11 am – 11:40 am EST (USA)
Session 2:
Metamorphosis of Raja Salhesh character: From Folklord to the God, and
Q&A Session
Time: 10:20 pm – 11 pm IST | 11:50 am – 12:30 pm EST (USA)
Session 3:
Concluding remarks
Time: 11:10 pm – 11:20 pm IST | 12:40 pm EST – 12:50 pm EST (USA)