Madhubani Painting Workshop

Use traditional Madhubani art in a participatory workshop format to raise awareness about sustainable transport, climate resilience, and the goals of the Harit Safar Abhiyan in an urban neighborhood. To promote the core messages of the Harit Safar Abhiyan—clean air, public transport, and inclusive mobility—using cultural and artistic practices familiar to local communities.

Use traditional Madhubani art in a participatory workshop format to raise awareness about sustainable transport, climate resilience, and the goals of the Harit Safar Abhiyan in an urban neighborhood. To promote the core messages of the Harit Safar Abhiyan—clean air, public transport, and inclusive mobility—using cultural and artistic practices familiar to local communities.

Key Highlights

 Community-level cultural workshop hosted in a public space in Rajiv Nagar

  1.  Introduction to Madhubani Art and Climate Themes
  2. Art Demonstration by Local Artist Facilitators
  3. Hands-on Workshop: Youth and citizens created themed artwork
  4. Focus on key Harit Safar themes: clean air, cycling, electric mobility, access for all
  5. Public Display: Final pieces showcased in local community center
  6. Dialogue circle between artists, youth ambassadors & citizens
  7. Distribution of awareness flyers and eco-message bookmarks
  8. Volunteer debrief and photo documentation

Description of Activity

On 17 June 2025, a vibrant Madhubani Painting Workshop was conducted at Rajiv Nagar as part of the ongoing Harit Safar Abhiyan. The event sought to connect the dots between traditional cultural expression and modern environmental advocacy.

The session began with a brief talk introducing the objectives of Harit Safar, highlighting the need for cleaner transportation systems and inclusive urban design. Local Madhubani artists then led a live demonstration, showing how elements like trees, cycles, buses, fish, and birds can symbolize climate and mobility themes.

Participants—mainly youth from Rajiv Nagar and nearby localities—were provided with painting kits and encouraged to create artworks depicting “What a Greener Patna Means to Me.” The workshop was both artistic and reflective, allowing participants to express their hopes, challenges, and solutions through brushes and colors.

Finished artworks were proudly displayed at the end of the session, drawing praise from passersby and community members. The Climate Agenda team facilitated group discussions about the symbolism used, and how art can be a vehicle for civic change.

Achievements and Impact

  1. Engaged over 30 participants, many of whom had never participated in a climate dialogue before
  2. Encouraged intergenerational participation, with both youth and adults joining the art session
  3. Created over 20 individual paintings reflecting urban mobility dreams and environmental concerns
  4. Strengthened local identity and pride by using Bihar’s indigenous art forms for social messaging
  5. Deepened community understanding of Harit Safar Abhiyan in a familiar and approachable way
  6. Encouraged youth to see themselves as contributors to environmental change

Actual Outcomes

This workshop successfully localized climate advocacy, shifting it from abstract policy terms to tangible expressions rooted in the neighborhood’s culture and talent. Art became the bridge between lived experiences and imagined futures, helping participants internalize the campaign’s objectives.

The quality and thoughtfulness of the paintings also showed that non-verbal tools can be powerful for outreach, particularly in diverse urban communities like Rajiv Nagar.

Lessons Learned

  1. A hands-on workshop creates stronger memory and emotional engagement than lectures or handouts
  2. Madhubani themes can be easily adapted to modern climate and mobility contexts
  3. Including local artists as facilitators brings credibility and authenticity to such events
  4. Informal public spaces are effective, but require prior community engagement for turnout
  5. More materials (extra brushes, palettes, paper) help avoid disruption and allow flexibility

Next Steps

  1. Collaborate with local cultural clubs to create a series: “Art for Urban Change”
  2. Develop a short video featuring participants explaining their paintings and dreams for Patna
  3. Organize a follow-up session to explore next-level art-based advocacy (murals, walls, installations)