Event Commemorates 150th Birth Anniversary of Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda
Mumbai: Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, continues to foster the holistic development and empowerment of tribal communities through initiatives that intertwine art, culture, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods. In this spirit, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED), proudly presents “Aadi Chitra” – A National Tribal Painting Exhibition.
Organised as part of the ongoing Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada (1–15 November 2025) commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the exhibition will be inaugurated on Monday, 10th November 2025, at 2:00 PM at the P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Prabhadevi, Mumbai.
The inauguration ceremony will be graced by Prof. Dr. Ashok Uike, Minister of Tribal Development, Government of Maharashtra; Secretary, Tribal Development Department, Maharashtra; and Director, Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Guided by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and coordinated by TRIFED Maharashtra, the week-long exhibition will remain open to the public from 10th to 16th November 2025, between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM.
This special event forms a key part of the nationwide celebrations leading up to Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (15th November 2025), which honours the life, ideals, and enduring contributions of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the revered tribal freedom fighter and symbol of indigenous pride.
Featuring over 100 exquisite tribal artworks from across India, Aadi Chitra offers visitors an immersive journey into the country’s rich and diverse indigenous art traditions. The exhibition showcases:
- Warli Paintings from Maharashtra
- Saura and Pattachitra Art from Odisha
- Gond and Bhil Art from Madhya Pradesh
- Pithora Paintings from Gujarat
Each artwork reflects the profound connection between nature, spirituality, and community life, portraying stories of harmony, resilience, and coexistence that form the core of tribal philosophy.
Preserving and promoting these traditional art forms is vital to safeguarding India’s cultural and ecological heritage. Tribal art, beyond its aesthetic beauty, serves as a living repository of ancestral knowledge, environmental wisdom, and indigenous identity.
Through Aadi Chitra and similar initiatives, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED, under the guidance of Hon’ble Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram, reaffirm their dedication to protecting India’s tribal art legacy while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for tribal artists and artisans across the nation.
Aadi Chitra stands as a vibrant testament to India’s tribal legacy — celebrating the creativity, resilience, and living traditions of the nation’s indigenous communities while reinforcing the spirit of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada.
