“I grew up in Pune, Maharashtra, where festivals and colors were a part of daily life. I’ve always been drawn to art—oil paints, colors, and patterns fascinated me as a child. My family wasn’t always sure about me pursuing art as a career, but my mother believed in me, and that support meant everything. I went on to complete my Fine Arts degree in Pune, and over the years, I’ve created more than 800 pieces in oil painting and rangoli. For me, art is not just about making something beautiful; it’s a way to express feelings, devotion, and ideas.
In 2022, my team and I set a world record with the largest 3D portrait rangoli of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, covering 34,000 sq. ft. and using 16,000 kg of colors. That project was enormous, exhausting, and incredible all at once. Every stroke and every colour felt like a tribute to history, culture, and collective effort.
In 2023, I had the chance to participate in Koti Deepotsavam at NTR Stadium in Hyderabad, a festival where a million lamps are lit to mark devotion and light over darkness. Seeing so many people come together, and creating a devotional rangoli for that event, was humbling. Witnessing that energy reminded me why I do what I do; it’s bigger than just me or my art.
I’ve also been fortunate enough to take my work abroad. In 2024, I led a team representing India at the Sarasota International Chalk Festival in Florida. Sharing traditional rangoli with an international audience was exciting, but it also made me realise how universal the language of art is. People respond to colors, patterns, and stories even if they don’t speak the same language. That same year, I began experimenting with AI to create rangoli patterns, combining tradition with technology. It was an experiment, but it opened up new ways to think about how art evolves without losing its roots.
This year, 2025, I created a rangoli called ‘Ram Krishna Hari’ for the Ashadhi Wari pilgrimage in Talegoan, Maharashtra.That piece was devotional, meditative, and deeply personal.
Every time I work on these projects, whether it’s festivals, pilgrimages, or exhibitions, I feel like I’m part of a larger story, one that connects people, traditions, and emotions.
Art, for me, isn’t about recognition or records. It’s about connection between people, culture and devotion, past and present.
Every festival, every exhibition, every piece I create is a chance to share that connection.”
- Bhagyashree Deshpande, Artist