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Art Mandai for Republic Day: How annual exhibition in Pune’s largest vegetable market has made art accessible and affordable

This year’s Art Mandai theme is ‘Beauty in the Everyday’. Artists have used rocks, wood, ceramics, cloth, and scrap, among others, to create artworks.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Jan 25, 2026 10:12 PM IST

Twenty-seven artists are participating this year at Art Mandai in Pune. (Courtesy: Art Mandai)

In 2015, a bunch of well-known artists got together and everybody started saying, “Let’s do something together.”

They said that making art and having group shows was all very well, but what was not happening was exposure of art to people who don’t go to galleries. It is a problem with art in India that only a particular class of people – educated in art and well-travelled – are thought to understand art.

The group of artists thought that if everybody does not have an urge to enter galleries, “why don’t we go to them and sell art?” The result was Art Mandai – an artist’s day out at Mandai, Pune’s oldest and largest vegetable market. The unusual idea is turning 10 this Republic Day.

For the present core committee members – Gauri Gandhi, Sujata Dharap, Rashmi Bhadkamkar, Falguni Gokhale, Shyam Dhavale, Indrani Garai, and Ruby Jhunjhunwala – the milestone is packed with wonder. The growing footfalls at Art Mandai over the years indicate hidden art lovers in the crowd of stressed-out everyday people. This could be Pune’s best-kept secret, a booming market for art among an invisible population.

Twenty-seven artists are participating this year, of whom the majority are emerging names. Three performance artists will liven up Mandai with two-to three-minute shows that range from poetry and dance to music. Art Mandai opens at 9 am and continues till 2 pm. This year’s theme is ‘Beauty in the Everyday’. Artists have used rocks, wood, ceramics, cloth and scrap, among others, to create works.

The current core committee members of Art Mandai. (Courtesy: Art Mandai)

It was Raju Sutar who suggested at the very start to keep Art Mandai on January 26. The vegetable vendors at Mandai were among the first sceptics. “’The bhaji vendors wondered about these people who were coming to sit next to them and sell what? But in just one or two years, we became friends. And they said many new people are coming because of the festival,” says Dharap, a Pune artist.

A fundamental idea of Art Mandai is “to make art so affordable that literally anybody can go and buy it”. “We started at Rs 500 and, even 10 years later, our highest pricing is Rs 3,000,” says Dharap. Artists have to do authentic original work, and 35 per cent of all the earnings go to a social cause. People buy large numbers of works for personal collections and gifts. “We are trying to promote this whole movement and also imagine how this can take off,” she says.

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An equally large number of people come just to gaze at the works and to go back happier. “Being around art has an impact on people’s lives. It is about stress relief, a feeling of betterment and wellness. Art is definitely going to clear your mind,” says Dharap.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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