The town of Cheriyal in Warangal district, Telangana, widely came to be known for a unique art form called nakashi art. Its motifs, which contained the colour red predominantly, were often painted in the bright colour in order to be visible from a distance, and were narratives as well — those which told stories. They did so by depicting scenes from village life.

To celebrate this art form, a painting workshop will be held today, conducted by artist Saikiran Varma Dhanalakota. Dhanalakota shares, “Cheriyal art was considered crucial for socio-cultural development across many villages in ancient and medieval India. These paintings became the go-to art when it came to introducing people to myths and legends, and throwing light on social issues.”