From intricate temple carvings in Khajuraho to vibrant Kalighat paintings of 19th-century Bengal, the Mahabharata has been etched in India’s visual heritage. Legendary scenes—Arjuna’s Virat Yatra, Krishna’s Bhagavad Gita discourse—adorn temple walls, palace murals, and even modern street art. Folk theatre forms like Kathakali, Yakshagana and Therukoothu bring those epic episodes to life through dance, music and elaborate costumes, while contemporary directors experiment with projection-mapped backdrops and VR, giving Draupadi’s swayamvara a digital twist.

On the literary front, every vernacular tradition boasts its own Mahabharata retelling: from Ezhuthachan’s Malayalam “Adhyathmaramayanam” to Kamban’s Tamil epics. In recent years, writers have reinvigorated familiar tales—novels such as “The Palace of Illusions” spotlight Draupadi’s voice, and Amar Chitra Katha comics introduced younger generations to Karna’s tragic arc. The epic remains a favorite at literary festivals; panel discussions often draw parallels between Yudhishthira’s dilemma and today’s ethical debates around AI ethics or climate justice.

Cultural rituals and social mores still echo Mahabharata themes. Family sagas invoke Yudhisthira’s honesty or Bhishma’s oath, using them as moral compasses in weddings and community gatherings. Festivals like Ghosha Yatra in Gujarat reenact the Pandavas’ forest wanderings, blending devotion with pageantry. Even Bollywood borrows its tropes—heroic brothers at odds, secret identities, final showdowns—while dialogues from the BR Chopra TV series continue to circulate on social media reels during Diwali and Navratri.

Beyond entertainment, the epic’s questions of duty, destiny and dharma have shaped India’s philosophical discourse. Leaders from Gandhi to Ambedkar have cited its teachings on non-violence and social justice. Its timeless appeal, having stood the test of time, makes the Mahabharata less a relic of the past than a living guidebook—one that continues to cast a long shadow over art, literature and day-to-day life.