Stories
Gold-Plated Tirupati Balaji Painting Created by Jeevika Didi Captures Attention at Saras Fair
- •Krishna Devi from Sheikhpura district created a stunning gold-plated Tanjore painting of Lord Tirupati Balaji over a span of six months.
- •The intricate artwork is priced at 2.75 lakh rupees and features 22-carat gold foil along with natural vegetable colors.
- •Krishna Devi joined Jeevika in 2016 and began crafting Tanjore paintings after returning home during the 2020 lockdown.
- •She now employs and trains around 20 people, expanding her business capital to 12 to 13 lakh rupees.
- •The painting is currently on display at the Saras Fair held at Gyan Bhavan in Patna.
Key Questions Answered
The gold-plated Tanjore painting of Lord Tirupati Balaji is priced at 2,75,000 rupees and took 6 months to prepare. It is currently on display at the Saras Fair in Gyan Bhavan, Patna.
The process begins by pasting cloth on plywood and coating it with a mix of tamarind seed powder, gum arabic, and Fevicol. After sketching and carving to create an embossed effect with stones, 22-carat gold foil pieces are pasted on. Natural vegetable colors are then filled in, and the finished artwork is framed in teak wood under glass.
The artist is Krishna Devi from Sheikhpura district, who started making Tanjore paintings after returning home during the 2020 lockdown. After initially working at home, she received opportunities from the Jeevika office to sell her products at the Saras Fair starting in 2022. Today, she trains and employs about 20 people alongside her husband and has successfully expanded her business.
