Warli Art: Ancient Stories on Canvas

The Warlis are an indigenous tribe occupying the mountainous and coastal regions of the Maharashtra - Gujarat border and the neighbouring areas. The tribe holds animistic belief systems which assimilated with popular Hindu beliefs that they have adapted over time. Warli art paintings are known for their unique visual representation reflecting the community’s close association with nature shaped by their centuries-old subsistence in forests. Warli paintings did not have a written alphabet recently and used their visual expression to pass down their belief system through generations. Popular themes include community dances, harvest festivals, and general scenes from their domestic and community lifestyles.