Warli Painting on the wall of a Indian Village Hut of Maharashtra

Maharashtra

The enduring tribal artistry of Maharashtra: Warli Paintings

A millennia old tradition of storytelling

Warli Painting on the wall of a Indian Village Hut of Maharashtra
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Where nature meets culture

Tribes present the most balanced relationship between nature and culture. Tribesmen worship the endless bounties of Mother Nature, protect them, and centre their own way of life on it. The Warli community or tribe has left a rather captivating legacy across Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu. These are the Warli paintings, etched on walls in a rather unique style and rich symbolism. Equipped with mere basics – a monochrome colour palette and primary geometric shapes – the community creates extraordinary adornments; paintings with a life of their own. A window into their way of life, Warli paintings are a precious cultural artefact that is appreciated world over. 

The millennia old Warlis

The history of the Warli paintings stretches back to millennia. This rich artistic heritage seems to have begun in 10,000 BCE; echoes of the signature style mural paintings of the Warlis can be found in the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters. The Warli paintings are thus established as an incredibly ancient tradition of visual storytelling.

Some scholars believe the Warlis descend from the people of Varalat, mentioned by the Greek ethnographer Megasthenes in the 3rd century BCE. This region, located near present-day Dharampur in Maharashtra, was known as Warlat Pradesh in ancient times. This potential connection strengthens the notion that the Warlis have inhabited their current home for at least 2,300 years, with their artistic expression, Warli painting, becoming a defining cultural element.

Of rituals and traditions

Warli Painting is ritualistic in nature and is recognisable in its use of basic geometrical elements such as lines, dots, triangles, circles, square and rectangles for creating scenes from Warli culture and daily life. Traditionally, these paintings have been adorned on walls as murals. It is a vivid expression of the social life of Warli tribal people, portraying the deep connection between the tribe and nature. For millennia, it has been a tool of visual storytelling, narrating folklores through elaborately detailed scenes.

These paintings have traditionally been practiced at special occasions such as festivals, harvest, marriage etc.; the paintings themselves were made during ritual ceremonies. The paintings are like a peering glass, a glimpse into the lives of the Warli tribe, their colourful culture, traditions, villages, Gods, animals, people, customs and rituals. The traditional method of Warli paintings utilised all natural products. In the initial step of Lipane, the wall is coated with an earth mixture known as Geru to create a smooth canvas. Next is the process of Saravane, in which an austere background is created by evenly spreading a mixture of cow dung and water. The white colour typical to these paintings is created through a rice powder paste (Pitha cha Rang).  Finally in Lihane, the paintings are created using brushes made of bamboo sticks (Salatichi Kaadi) crushed at the end.


Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh/India : January 15, 2020 - Indian Tribal Painting or Warli Painting at Manav Sangrahalaya

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Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh/India : January 15, 2020 - Indian Tribal Painting or Warli Painting at Manav Sangrahalaya

Warli in contemporary Maharashtra

Today, Warli Paintings are a commercial success and are practiced on an array of materials such as paper, book covers, stationery, printing blocks, furniture, mirrors, wooden frames, ivory, and even cloth and canvas based materials. Warli paintings have found their way into homes, galleries and exhibitions throughout the state. Warli is an essential part of Maharashtra's cultural diversity. These rustic masterpieces are perfect for adding an earthy yet mystic aura to one’s living space. The sheer range of products available in Warli styles make them the perfect souvenirs to take home.

In 2014, the Warli Paintings became Geographical Indications (GI), acknowledging them as the intellectual legacy of the Warli community. Worli art today is omnipresent and available in all major shopping centres of Maharashtra. Pick a few of these authentic paintings, and decorate your home beautifully!