Khajuraho/New Delhi
Though Khajuraho, a UNSECO World Heritage Site in Madhya Pradesh, is well-known for its erotic temples, another interesting spot here is hard to miss. It is Aadivart, a museum dedicated to tribal and folk art, and managed by the State’s Department of Culture.
The place is a huge draw for tourists and travellers who are keen on art and culture.
“Right now, the museum is awaiting the inauguration of its third phase in February 2026 which will coincide with the Khajuraho Dance Festival. The third phase will showcase the Gurukul system. The first two phases were inaugurated in 2023 and 2024. Though the time limit is fast approaching, all efforts are being made for the inauguration of the third phase by next year,” Aadivart Manager Bhaskar Parkhe shared with The Indian Tribal.
Apart from the temples, the Khajuraho Dance Festival also draws many tourists.
Parkhe explained that the museum already existed in the late 1990s when Chhattisgarh was a part of Madhya Pradesh. That is why many exhibits featured Chhattisgarh’s culture also. After Chhattisgarh became a new State in 2000, the place was redone and new parts as well as features were added.
GURUKUL SYSTEM AND UNIQUE TRIBAL EXHIBITS
A unique feature of ancient India was the Gurukul system as part of which disciples lived with gurus in ashrams and received education. This feature is going to be introduced at Aadivart next year, informed museum curatorAshok Mishra, who is based in Bhopal. Mishra is also in charge of Aadivart.
The place where now Aadivart stands was a small unit in 2000. But, thereafter, it was expanded keeping in mind tourists who can get a taste of Madhya Pradesh’s tribal and folk culture in one place, informed Mishra.
“The Gurukul at Aadivart, which is coming up, will help enthusiasts to learn, for instance bamboo craft, weaving or iron craft, if they want to. At present, it is not easy to find teachers in these fields. Aadivart means something which will never get old. It is a place which highlights traditional and ancient ways of life, art and culture,” Mishra said.
A look around the place revealed beautiful Bhil Pithora paintings created by noted painters Bhuri Bai, a Padma Shri recipient in 2021 and Lado Bai. The art form is extant in the Bhil-dominated Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh.
“Bhils always inhabited water scarce regions and faced shortage. The community invokes their god Pithora and believes that the Pithora paintings always ensure good water availability,” Parkhe told The Indian Tribal. The Bhils, apart from Jhabua, also reside in Nimar region which shares a border with Rajasthan.
Parkhe informed that Bhuri Bai personally visited the place and did the paintings. Her life story is exhibited through the depiction of her village and her rural origins with emphasis on life and culture.
The defining feature of Bhil paintings is the use of numerous dots and the tree is often depicted. A painting by Lado Bai depicts a tree, a tribal man and an animal, highlighting the interconnectedness of the natural world.
Apart from the terrific wall art displayed at the museum, visitors can also see models of houses belonging to the seven major tribes of Madhya Pradesh on display on the grounds. These houses made with mud and wood were made by tribal families themselves. In this, they received assistance in technicalities. Some of the houses exhibited here feature ornate wooden doors with intricate work. On stepping inside, wall designs and traditional grain storage systems are spotted.
Local people from Khajuraho are hired to maintain the place with as many as 10 women pressed into service when any mud structure has to be built.
CHALLENGES ON THE GROUND
Normally, the peak tourist season in Khajuraho stretches from November to March. After that, local residents who mostly earn from tourism survive somehow.
“Tourists avoid Khajuraho in the summers as temperatures soar over 40 degrees Celsius across Bundelkhand. Apart from the temples, tourists only visit the Panna Tiger Reserve nearby. Thus, Aadivart with its interesting exhibits is a good way to draw tourists. The purpose was to boost local economy and offer something else apart from the famous temples, especially to those keen on art and culture,” Parkhe pointed out.
With the pilgrimage site Bageshwar Dham, about 40 km away, some Indian tourists make it a point to visit Khajuraho throughout the year.
Local resident Deepak Raikwad, who lives in a settlement called Purana Basti near the temples and does odd jobs, said most people depend on agriculture and labour for livelihood during the off season.
“Foreigners don’t visit the Bageshwar Dham but due to Indian travellers, the tourist flow is not completely non-existent now throughout the year.” Raikwad pointed out that tourism, with its several benefits, has also changed the local culture of Khajuraho. This is reflected in the dresses worn and also in the open interaction of the sexes even though arranged marriages are still prevalent.
TOURIST INFO
- Aadivart remains open from 12pm to 9pm
- Entry fee is Rs 20 for Indian tourists, with an extra Rs 100 for photography
- Foreigners have to pay Rs 400 for entry and an identical amount for photography
- A restaurant serves Bundelkhandi dishes as Khajuraho is part of the Bundelkhand region
- Six staff take care of the galleries and attend to visitors
