Warli Landscape with Tarpa Dance

On Diwali, the festival of lights, as the lamps are lit, the TARPA is used to summon young couples in the village to dance in a ring. (TARPA is a long bulbous musical instrument made from dried gourd) Dancing in a circle around the tarpa player-it is life seen as a celebration of human endeavors. It is a breathtaking round of swinging, swirling movement- a merry-go-round of light and sound festivity. There is an atmosphere of lush celebration around the central theme

Warli Tribe

Animals consist of two sharply formed triangles. The horse with the rider, especially, is fully etched out, sharp and confident in its angularity. The emergence of huts, animals, humans, show signs of domestication. That they are engaged in activity, suggest a primitive level of development.

In this painting, we see a whole wave of movement of humanity as it swirls one way and then another with the ebb and flow of life. This description by Renu Rana. References:

Dalmia, Yashodhara. The Painted World of the Warlis: New Delhi, Lalit Kala Akademi, 1988.

Handmade Tribal Youth Out On A Hunt

While each of our tribes comprise of a few families, the sheer variety of tribes to be found in the subcontinent is numberless. The ways of life and languages are distinct from one tribe to another, of which very little has been documented. This is because of how remote they are, and how close yet self-sufficient their economies are. Speaking of economy, art is a major part of tribal life-expression, which in turn plays a two-pronged role in their sustenance. 

Tribal Youth 

The dynamic brass figurine you see on this page is one such work of art. It captures a quintessential aspect of Indian tribal life. Foraging, hunting, and gathering are their primary means of livelihood, so it is imperative that their menfolk know their way around the woods and the mountains. This young man is clad in a coarse dhoti, short enough to facilitate agility, and a turban to hold back his curls. Bracelets, anklets, and danglers constitute his adornments, which are probably the hallmarks of his clan. From the stance of his arms, he seems to be taking a short-distance aim at a small unsuspecting animal.