India marks 80th Independence Day in China with Madhubani workshops

Indian missions in Beijing and Shanghai held Madhubani art workshops for Independence Day celebrations. The outreach used folk culture to deepen people-to-people connect and widen awareness of Indian heritage in China.Image used for representational purposes onlyIndian diplomatic missions in China have held interactive workshops on Madhubani art as part of the ongoing celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Independence Day. The events were organised in Beijing and Shanghai, bringing together art lovers, members of the Indian diaspora and Friends of India in China.The Indian Embassy in Beijing hosted a hands-on workshop on Tuesday, while the Consulate of India in Shanghai held a similar event on Monday. The programmes focused on Madhubani, a traditional art form from Bihar's Mithila region, and highlighted India's folk and cultural traditions.The Beijing workshop was organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in collaboration with Routes2Roots. In a post on X, the embassy said, "Art enthusiasts explored the intricate patterns, vivid colours and timeless traditions of this beautiful Indian folk art, bringing a little piece of India's rich artistic heritage to life in Beijing."In Shanghai, the workshop was organised by the Consulate of India under the leadership of Consul General Pratik Mathur. The consulate said in a post on X that nearly 200 representatives from the Indian diaspora and Friends of India in China attended the event. Inaugurating the programme, Mathur underlined the role of India's folk and cultural traditions in preserving the country's unique identity, bringing together India's vibrant community and helping promote its cultural heritage, the consulate said. He also said Madhubani enjoys a unique place in India's civilisational history and culture.The Consul General also met and felicitated young students Han and Liu from Shanghai Jincai International School, who recently visited India as part of a student exchange programme. According to the consulate, they are now developing an innovative technology platform to create greater awareness and foster better understanding in the region for traditional Indian art forms such as Madhubani. The workshops in Beijing and Shanghai formed part of the Independence Day celebrations and focused on taking Indian folk art to wider audiences in China while engaging the diaspora and local well-wishers.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 11, 2026 20:30 IST