Mumbai
As part of the ongoing Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada (1–15 November 2025) commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), in collaboration with the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED), is organising ‘Aadi Chitra’ – the National Tribal Painting Exhibition.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Monday at the P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Prabhadevi, here by Prof. Dr. Ashok Uike, Minister of Tribal Development, Maharashtra; Secretary, Tribal Development Department, Maharashtra; and Director, Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Being held under the guidance of MoTA and coordinated by TRIFED Maharashtra, the week-long exhibition will remain open to the public from 10th to 16th November 2025, between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM.
The event forms an integral part of the nationwide celebrations leading up to Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (15th November 2025), dedicated to honouring the life, ideals, and contributions of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Bringing together more than 100 exquisite tribal artworks, Aadi Chitra offers visitors an immersive journey through India’s vibrant indigenous art traditions. The exhibition features:
- Warli Paintings from Maharashtra
- Saura and Pattachitra Art from Odisha
- Gond and Bhil Art from Madhya Pradesh
- Pithora Paintings from Gujarat
Each artwork reflects the deep relationship between nature, spirituality, and community life — narrating stories of harmony, resilience, and the eternal bond between human beings and their environment.
The exhibition is part of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ bid to “advance the holistic development and empowerment of tribal communities through initiatives that integrate art, culture, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods.
Preserving and promoting these traditional art forms is crucial to safeguarding India’s cultural diversity. Tribal art is not only a medium of aesthetic expression but also a repository of traditional knowledge, ecological wisdom, and indigenous identity.
Aadi Chitra stands as a testament to India’s rich tribal legacy, celebrating the creativity, resilience, and living traditions of the nation’s indigenous communities.
