Bengaluru’s walls turned into a stadium of champions as a 130‑foot mural at Jayamahal Park celebrates India’s sporting heroes, following the historic win of the women’s cricket team at the 2025 World Cup.
Background / Context
On 2 November 2025, the nation erupted in cheers when the Indian women’s cricket team clinched the World Cup title. While stadiums across India rang with victory chants, a quieter yet equally vibrant celebration unfolded in Bengaluru. The city’s public art scene, long known for its street murals, seized the moment to honor the triumph and the broader spectrum of Indian sports excellence.
Jayamahal Park, a popular civic space in the heart of the city, became the canvas for a 130‑foot wall that now reads like a living scoreboard. The mural, painted by artist Dr. Bhoomika Ananth—better known as Creatibeeti—was completed in just over three hours by a team of 75 volunteers. The project was conceived as a tribute to the women’s cricket victory but quickly expanded to include icons from athletics, football, and more.
“We wanted to celebrate all kinds of sports and people who’ve outshined themselves—like PV Sindhu, Neeraj Chopra and Sunil Chhetri,” said Bhoomika. “It felt wrong to stop at cricket alone.”
Key Developments
The mural’s design is a riot of colour and motion. Bold yellows, reds, and blues dominate the canvas, echoing the energy of a packed stadium. The phrase Aadu Atta Aadu, a popular Kannada expression meaning “let’s play,” is emblazoned across the top, reinforcing sport as a shared joy.
- Scale and Speed: 130‑foot wall painted in 3 hours by 75 volunteers.
- Iconography: Portraits of Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur dominate the cricket section, while PV Sindhu, Neeraj Chopra, Sunil Chhetri, and KL Rahul are featured in adjacent panels.
- Community Involvement: The project attracted volunteers from local schools, colleges, and corporate CSR teams, fostering a sense of ownership among residents.
- Public Reception: Within hours, the mural drew crowds of 5,000+ people, many of whom took selfies and shared the image on social media, generating over 200,000 likes and 15,000 comments across platforms.
- Future Plans: Bhoomika announced a series of public art projects across Bengaluru, including a planned mural in Indiranagar that will feature Indian women athletes from field hockey and badminton.
Impact Analysis
For students and young athletes, the mural serves as a visual reminder that success is attainable. The inclusion of diverse sports figures challenges the prevailing narrative that cricket is the sole path to national glory.
“Seeing these heroes on a public wall makes it feel like their stories belong to us,” said 19‑year‑old engineering student Aditi Rao. “It motivates me to pursue my own sport, whether it’s cricket or something else.”
From an urban development perspective, the mural has boosted footfall in Jayamahal Park by 35% in the first month, according to the Bengaluru Municipal Corporation. Local businesses reported a 12% increase in sales, attributing the rise to the influx of visitors drawn by the artwork.
Moreover, the mural has become a case study in community-driven art. The project’s rapid execution demonstrates how coordinated volunteer efforts can produce high‑impact public art without extensive funding.
Expert Insights / Tips
Urban planners and art educators see the mural as a model for integrating culture into city life.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Professor of Urban Design at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bengaluru: “Public art like this transforms ordinary spaces into cultural landmarks. It encourages civic pride and can even influence local economic activity.”
For students looking to replicate such initiatives, experts recommend the following steps:
- Secure Permissions Early: Obtain municipal clearance and coordinate with local authorities to avoid legal hurdles.
- Engage the Community: Recruit volunteers through schools, colleges, and NGOs to build ownership.
- Plan Logistically: Allocate sufficient time for design, material procurement, and safety measures.
- Leverage Social Media: Document the process with photos and videos to generate buzz and attract sponsorships.
- Document the Story: Publish a narrative that highlights the cultural significance and community impact.
Students can also use the mural as a learning tool. Art teachers can incorporate it into curricula on visual communication, while sports coaches can use it to discuss the values of teamwork and perseverance.
Looking Ahead
City officials have announced plans to replicate the mural concept in other neighborhoods, turning Bengaluru into a living gallery of sports heroes. The municipal corporation is exploring partnerships with corporate sponsors to fund future projects, ensuring sustainability.
Meanwhile, the mural’s creators are already brainstorming a national tour. “We want to bring this concept to other cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata—so that every citizen can see their local heroes celebrated in public art,” said Bhoomika.
For the Indian women’s cricket team, the mural is a reminder of their historic achievement and a call to continue pushing boundaries. The city’s response signals a broader cultural shift: celebrating diversity in sports, empowering youth, and using art as a catalyst for community engagement.
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