Artists unite to celebrate womanhood

LUDHIANA: A woman has to sacrifice. The idea is so deeply ingrained in the Indian psyche that a sacrifice is not really seen as one, particularly after marriage. Hardly anyone takes the trouble to ask a woman who has given up her dreams if it hurts to do so. Take the case of Aanchal (name changed) who gave up painting after marriage because her family members were not comfortable with the idea. Three years after she bid farewell to her passion, she wielded the brush again for the exhibition to be held in the city on March 8, International Women's Day. It is her way of telling the world she still dares to dream.Artists participating in the show, which will be held at a restaurant in Ghumar Mandi feel it is high time for women to stop berating their plight. They need to assert they are not only the fairer but also the stronger sex and don't need validation for it.A total of 20 artists will come together on March 8 to make that point.ShwetaBhandari, a 32-year-old impressionist from Civil Lines feels the pride of womanhood needs to be underlined. "We are looking forward to celebrating our existence in society", she said. Two artists, Ayushi Gupta and Ravneet Saggu have made six feet tall painting on canvass. The painting, which took 40 hours to complete, has a portrait of Ayushi in red, the color of love. "Dancing female figures symbolize joy and celebration, yellow is the color of turmeric (haldi) and it signifies marriage. Both love and marriage are integral in a woman's life", explained Ayushi.Babbu Gill, a metaphysical healer from the city will be the judge and the chief guest at the exhibition, which will include painting, craftwork, face painting, fashion designing, poetry, photography and trousseau packing.Other participants include Leeza Bhatti, Gurpreet Kaur, Japneet, Aastha Mehra, Bhawana Sharma, Madhuri, Sabina Singh, Jasleen, Simmi, Avneet Kaur, Sanya Makkar, Kriti, Sukriti Chopra, Navdeep, Marc Victor, Ayushi Jain, Vasu Gupta and Prithvi Singh Bawa.