**The Ancient Courtyard** This watercolor portrays the timeless beauty of Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the historic heart of Nepal's medieval Newar kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Centuries-old pagoda temples, stone monuments, and traditional brick architecture stand as enduring symbols of Nepal's rich artistic and cultural legacy. Painted in luminous watercolor, the scene captures the warmth of morning light and the quiet rhythm of daily life, celebrating a place where history continues to live through its people and architecture.

The Ancient Courtyard

The Streets During Dashain — The festive time of Dashain - vendors selling rams and bucks (Chyangra, Khasi, and Boka), offerings, flowers, fruits, Kubindo, Wukhu and so on - transform the streets of Bhaktapur into a vibrant tapestry of communal harmony. The two paintings in the series are a depictions of that time, extracted from my memories of growing up in this city and how it continues on adapting with the changing times.

Street during Dashain - “कुबिन्डो साउनी”

Street During Dashain - “बा यो खसी कि बोका ?”

5000 years ago, two Brahmans named Bidhyadhar and Yeshodhar visited a place near Kumaripati. They had brought a lane with them which they rested against a wall before sleeping. The next morning when they woke up, they saw their lane turn into a big tree. People worship the tree as Barunbrikshya a form of lord Shiva up till this day. The two brahmans had burnt wood at night which is still burning in today’s day even after so many years. That’s why they named this place Aagnishal which means burning wood. My grandfather told me this story on the way home when he used to pick me up from school. We used to walk pass the same tree at Aagnishal. Since the tree is crooked, it blocks the road so people have to bend down to pass through. When I used to walk with my grandfather as a kid, I used to bend down watching my grandfather bend down even though I could easily walk through it up straight.

Buttressed through roots and ruins

Whispering through smoke

Imitating Tree

Childhood memories

At night, she leans alone

This artwork powerfully depicts Kritimukha Bhairav, the 'Face of Glory' Bhairav, a common protective motif found over doorways and scared thresholds in Nepalese architecture. the fierce, red-and-gold masked face in the center, framed by a wild name, symbolize the all-consuming, protective nature of time and the divine. The artist's composition skillfully integrates the presence of Shiva by depicting on both sides of the central figure's head. This dual representation emphasis that Kirtimukha, despite its terrifying aspect, is fundamentally an emanation of Shiva's ultimate protective power. The figure stands triumphantly on a demon (likely Apasmara), underscoring his role as a guardian who destroy the negative forces encountered when crossing a spiritual or physical boundary.

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