: Mumbai, 10th November 2025

In a vibrant celebration of India’s tribal heritage and creativity, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED), proudly presented “Aadi Chitra” – A National Tribal Painting Exhibition.

The exhibition was inaugurated today at 2:00 PM at the P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Prabhadevi, Mumbai. The inaugural event was graced by Prof. Dr. Ashok Uike, Minister of Tribal Development; Shri Vijay Waghmare, IAS, Secretary, Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra; and Ms. Deepali Masirkar, IPS, Director, Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Organized under the guidance of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and coordinated by Dr. Tarul D. Bhavsar, IRS, Deputy General Manager and Regional Manager, TRIFED Maharashtra, along with her team, the week-long exhibition remained open to the public from 10th to 16th November 2025 between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

“Aadi Chitra” showcases over 100 exquisite tribal paintings, representing the artistic expressions and cultural ethos of India’s diverse tribal communities. Visitors experienced an extraordinary display of traditional art forms such as:

Warli Paintings – Maharashtra

Saura and Pattachitra – Odisha

Gond and Bhil Art – Madhya Pradesh

Pithora Paintings – Gujarat

Each artwork narrated a timeless story — reflecting the deep relationship between nature, community, and spirituality that defines tribal life.

 

Through initiatives like Aadi Chitra, TRIFED continued its mission to empower tribal artisans, provide national recognition to their art, and ensure sustainable livelihoods by bringing indigenous creativity to a wider audience.

PIB Mumbai | Edgar Coelho / Priti Malandkar

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