Stories Behind the Canvas: Bringing Madhubani Art to an Orphanage

by Aadya Bommineni, Aradhna Praveen, and Shriya Shaji


We had the pleasure of speaking with Mahathi Barrenkala, a youth artist who during the summer, organized a vibrant Madhubani art workshop at an orphanage in India. Through preparation, hard work and creativity, she brought a burst of artistic joy to young children. 

Q&A Section with Mahathi


What motivated or inspired you to organize an art workshop at an orphanage? Was there a particular experience that inspired you?

Ever since I was little, I’ve always enjoyed service and helping others. Helping people has always made me feel content and I genuinely enjoy it. My parents definitely motivated me and helped out with the workshop.”



How did you prepare for it?

“Before traveling to India, my mom coordinated with my cousin who usually does service work for orphanages in India. My dad and I ordered materials like paint and brushes and I asked Deepti aunty for some Madhubani designs and what kinds of objects we could have the kids paint on. Once we landed in India, my mom and I talked to the people at the orphanage and told them about the workshop.”



What were the children’s reactions after or during this workshop?

“Many of the younger kids especially, really enjoyed this workshop. They kept asking if they could paint more coasters. There was one particular girl who painted over 7 coasters. At the end of the workshop, some of the older girls came and thanked me and my mom. They told us how much fun they had and that it was a very unique experience. One girl was in tears and told us that many people spent money or donated food to them, but we were the first people to exclusively spend time with them.”



Was there a moment that resonated with you? Perhaps something that made you surprised or made you see things differently?

“What really resonated with me was listening to the kids' stories about why they were in the orphanage. Many of them were extremely heart-touching. After talking to all these kids in the orphanage, it dawned on me that most people don’t take anything seriously and don’t realize how blessed their lives are.”



If you could share one message with others who are doing similar things as you did, what would you tell them? 

“One message I would share with others who are doing something similar would be that they should interact with as many people as they can. It is really interesting to learn about someone else’s experiences and opinions. I would also say, any service work should be done whole-heartedly and selflessly.”


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