Anjana Kumari, founder of Vaishnavi Kala Kendra, is an award-winning Manjusha artist who has trained 500+ women, promoting craft revival, cultural preservation, and livelihoods.
Anjana Kumari, founder of Vaishnavi Kala Kendra in Bhagalpur, is an award-winning master artist dedicated to reviving Manjusha Art. Having trained over 500 women, she champions self-reliance, cultural preservation, and craft-based livelihood generation alongside fellow artist Subhash Kumar.
Manjusha Art is an ancient folk-art tradition from the Anga region, characteristically painted in three colors—pink, green, and yellow. It uses distinctive wavy lines, snake motifs, and decorative borders to visually recount the legendary folklore of Bihula-Bishahari.
Bhagalpur (historically the capital of the Anga kingdom in Bihar) serves as the primary craft cluster for Manjusha Art. Supported by artisan self-help groups and organizations like Vaishnavi Kala Kendra, the cluster fosters women's entrepreneurship and preserves this heritage art form through modern products and national exhibitions.
Anjana Kumari hand-paints traditional Manjusha motifs across sarees, silk and cotton fabrics, jute bags, stoles, dupattas, and everyday lifestyle accessories.
Originating centuries ago in Bihar, Manjusha Art historically decorated paper and jute boxes (manjushas) used during the Bishahari festival, serving as a visual storytelling medium for sacred regional legends.
Contact : +91 8409987631
Instagram: Mithila_art01
Instagram (personal): Abdeshkarn01
