Art and Culture of Virar

Culture is an integral part and any city which shows it's history and adaptability. The different art forms, crafts and dance forms showcases the rich diversity of a city. Virar is no different from this and there are varieties to tickle your senses. Let's throw some light on the culture of Virar;

Rangoli Making Culture in Virar

Rangoli is a common and traditional form of art which is being performed in Indian houses during festive occasions from a long time. Amar Kala Mandal of Vasai – Virar region started conducting competitions inviting participants who are experts in rangoli from 50s. By conducting these competitions Amar Kala Mandal encouraged regional people to show their talents.

Figure sketching and freehand form expressions were added to this art by Shankarrao Modgekar during 1967. Many regional people were also trained by him namely Nitin Potdar, Kalpak Gharat, Sunbhash Gondhale, Umesh Anjalkar and Sameer Modgekar. After getting training from Modgekar, these artists not only rose to fame locally but in the places like Delhi during the cultural events of Sanskar Bharati.

Dance Groups in Virar

Shridhar Parkar brought dance to the Vasai – Virar region. He was schooled in Kathak from Pandit Bhairavprasad from Mumbai. Further, he got education from the Ghanshyamdasji from Udaishankarji Institute. Also, he has mastered the art of designing and making costumes, masks and ornaments for theatrical dance.

When he arrived in Vasai Taluka in 1950, dance was not an easily accepted form of art in the society. However, he ignored all the criticism he got and started his own dance academy “The Bharati Nritya Vidyalaya” located in Nirmal. His wife Ashatai joined him in his efforts in 1956 and their dance school was renamed as Nrutya Kiran. The couple has created magic with their art over the past few years.

Both of them have got winning accolades of praises for their style of dancing. Kathak is not the only dance form taught in this institute but folk dances and Bhangra can also be learnt here. Most of the students learning dance from this institute are winning National dance certificates for their art. Nrutya Kiran is now around 50 years old and the couple is still active in teaching dance forms to new students.

Fine Arts & Paintings:

Roby D’Silva is a regional name which is well known to the world for his contribution to the corporate branding. He was born in a deprived family of the Vasai region and reached this position with his immense efforts. Roby took international education in designs and has been involved with designing logos and branding many corporate companies. He has worked as a consultant for many MNCs before he returned back to India.

Vasai Vikasini’s Fine Arts College is affiliated to him and he helps regional students in taking this field professionally in their life. Before Roby, Vasai had two great artists namely Shankarrao Jadhav and
Shankar Modgekar.

Shankar Jadhav is famous for his portraits such as portrait of Annasaheb Vartak, Bhausaheb Vartak, Dr. Parulekar, Ganpatrao Vartak and Cardinal Gracias.

Shankar Modgekar is famous for the pencil sketches made by him. He has used his pencil sketches in his book “Free Figure” which is a proof of his work and knowledge of human forms and figures.