LUCKNOW, Oct. 7 -- A living, centuries-old heritage of the painters of Banaras Gharana came alive as part of an art exhibition 'Miniatures: Banaras Gharana' that began at Kokoro Art Gallery on Tuesday. The exhibition was inaugurated by Amrit Abhijat, additional chief secretary, department of tourism, culture and transport. The exhibition will remain open to visitors until October 28. Curated by the dean, College of Architecture and Planning, Vandana Sehgal, the exhibition centres on the intricate, vibrant, and historically rich miniature painting tradition of the Banaras Gharana. The exhibition features 39 works crafted entirely with natural pigments. It traces the unbroken guru-shishya lineage spanning five generations of the Banaras miniature tradition. The showcased artists include Ustad Mulchand Prasad, Ustad Ram Prasad, Ustad Sharda Prasad, Ustad Mukund Prasad, Ustad Gopal Prasad, Vansh Shri Yadav, and Ankit Prasad. Together, these works demonstrate how the technical disciplines of Mughal miniature painting adapted and evolved over time, deeply entwined with the religious, social, and cultural life of the region. The historical roots of the Banaras miniature tradition trace back to the reign of Shah Alam II, when royal painters accompanied Mughal princes held in Banaras. A young man of the Ahir community named Sikkhi learned the craft from them, passing it down through generations that birthed master craftsmen like Ustad Batohi and Ustad Mulchand. Over the decades, masters of the tradition expanded the craft. Ustad Ram Prasad became renowned for his portraiture and mastery of facial expressions, while Ustad Sharda Prasad preserved traditional pigment preparation, brush-making, and conservation techniques while working closely with Bharat Kala Bhavan at Banaras Hindu University. Modern torchbearers like Ustad Gopal Prasad, who is also an acclaimed writer and researcher, alongside contemporary voices like Ankit Prasad and Vansh Shri Yadav, are known to bridge ancient techniques with modern sensibilities....