Benaras captured on canvas

Benaras, which has served as muse for countless artists, who have dipped into the ethereal beauty of its ghats,as well as its spiritual ambiance to come up with masterpieces, has now charmed artist Rita Jhunjhunwala who has captured the ancient city on canvas.
The centuries-old Ganga valley civilisation which provided the city of Benaras with its identity enamoured Rita and gave her the idea to capture on canvas the beauty of life of the city located on the banks of the river.
"I went to Benaras four years back without any intention of painting the city. At that time I was working on 'Lotus'. But after seeing the beauty of Benares I wanted very much to portray it on canvas. I knew Benaras was a cliche subject, but I wanted to do it," says Rita

Her exhibition "Benaras.Com" comprising 30 different oil on canvass works each portraying 30 different angles of life in Benaras was inaugurated here recently by film director Muzzafar Ali and his fashion designer wife Meera Ali.
Benaras, also known as Varanasi, a small city with winding lanes and passages reaching the river Ganga, is considered as a holy city by Hindus.
The artist says she was awestruck by the people, the day to day life of Benaras, fishermen, all of which she has given expression in her work.
"I had a character in my mind and I really wanted to do it and I didn't check whether some one had done it or not, says Rita.

The Delhi-based artist was born and brought up in Kolkata. According to the artist she is sure that over the years she was inspired by Bengal School of Arts because she studied there and then later became a teacher at Calcutta University.