30-Nov-2021: The Tribes India Aadi Mahotsav comes to a successful close

The Tribes India Aadi Mahotsav held from 16- 30 November, 2021 at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi came to a successful close this evening. The closing ceremony was presided by Shri Arjun Munda, Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Ramsinh Rathwa, Chairman, TRIFED, Shri Pabitra Kahanra, Vice Chairman, TRIFED among other dignitaries. The closing programme began with the visit of dignitaries to the stalls of the festival. Following which, they were welcomed and felicitated by Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED and the TRIFED team. In his welcome address, Shri Krishna thanked the dignitaries for their visit and the residents of Delhi for making this event a grand success. He was confident that the heavy footfall and the phenomenal sales registered despite the times we live in, would definitely go a long way in helping the tribal artisans and dwellers overcome the setback that they faced during the lockdown.

The highlight of the short ceremony was the launch of Tribes India’s Global E-Commerce www. tribesindia.org along with Tribes India’s range of Herbal Home remedies which included Tulsi Syrup, Sitopladi, Ashwagandha Churn, essential oil and other similar organic products from the Van Dhan Vikas Clusters. The ceremony also saw felicitation of the top three tribal artisans categorized in different groups such as textiles, gifts and assortments, organic products, cane and bamboo, jewellery, metal, paintings, pottery, and tribal cuisine based on their sales and popularity with the audiences. The artisans/ organisations felicitated were given a memento. The ceremony came to a close with a cultural programme.

The fortnight-long National Tribal Festival saw the participation of 1000s of tribal artisans, chefs, artists and cultural troupes from 27 states across the country. The rich tribal culture as evident in the form of rare tribal handicrafts, handloom and natural products, tribal cuisines were on display in about 200 stalls. The Aadi Mahotsav succeeded in winning the hearts of the residents of Delhi as witnessed by the heavy footfall over the past 15 days and the sales registered.

The wares of the tribal artisans, be it the fine Patachitra paintings, or the lovely silks from Assam, the exquisite tribal jewellery from Odisha, the Virgin Coconut Oil from the Nicobar Islands, 545 Van Dhan products produced by the tribal forest gatherers, the beaded necklaces from the North-east, the Pashmina from Ladakh and 66 GI tagged tribal products have been appreciated. Add to it the earthy, exotic cuisine of the tribals, ranging from momos from Sikkim to mahua laddus from Chhattisgarh; from Dhuska and litti chokha from Jharkhand to thapdi roti of Odisha and chapda chutney of Chhattisgarh. The feasts available to one’s senses in the festival have been many.

Perhaps making up from the losses registered due to the lockdown, the Aadi Mahotsav has seen the tribal artisans register approximately 6 crores in direct sales over the past fortnight. Moreover, a purchase order worth 6.67 crores has been placed by TRIFED; leading to a total of approximately of 13 crores in business transactions for the tribals participating in this festival.

23-Nov-2021: Aadi Mahotsav in 7 days has reached the sale of Rs 3 crores

As a part of the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas,  Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Ltd (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India  is organising the “Aadi Mahotsav”, a mega National Tribal Festival in Dilli Haat, New Delhi from November 16-30, 2021.

In a media interaction today Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED informed that this year’s Aadi Mahotsav in 7 days has reached the sale of around Rs 3 crores with last Sunday creating a mark by crossing the sale value of Rs 60 lakhs as a single day revenue generated by the tribal artisans. He also informed that this is the biggest one-day sale made amongst 35 Aadi Mahotsavs hosted by TRIFED in the past 4 years.

He further highlighted that TRIFED is continuously looping in increasing number of tribal artisans and helping the tribal welfare schemes reach greater number of  tribes. He also said that  the Aadi Mahotsav  has 14 newly empanelled tribal artisans from Ladakh selling apricot and pashmina products and North-East this year has over 40 groups participating in Aadi Mahotsav, bringing with them a large variety of traditional north-eastern tribal products.

The festival was inaugurated by Shri Sukhram Munda, grandson of Bhagwan Birsa Munda at 6.30 pm on November 16, 2021. Shri Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs presided over the inaugural function. With more than 200 stalls from across the country and about 1000 artisans and artists with their unique stories participating, the Aadi Mahotsav, an annual tribal festival organised by TRIFED is a way to draw the Adivasis into the mainstream. Showcasing traditional art and handicrafts and cultural heritage of the country, this festival connects the tribal artisans with larger markets and brings to focus the diversity and richness of the tribes of India.

Among major highlights of this year’s Aadi Mahotsav is the Tribes Nicobar Virgin Coconut Oil – a product coming from the remote indigenous communities of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This is for the first time, such a product is launched at New Delhi through the efforts of TRIFED which is working towards fulfilling the dream of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in building a new and prosperous India by empowering the tribal communities

This year an exclusive pavilion for the sale and display of Van Dhan products has been put up, with a range of products from organic amla candies to bamboo cased copper bottles. Aadi Mahotsav has a total of 545 Van Dhan items being sold by the tribal suppliers through over 11 Van Dhan dedicated stalls.

This Aadi Mahotsav also brings GI tagged tribal products from across the nation, including organic products from North-East Farm Sale stall, selling Joha Rice, Assam Orthodox Tea, Mizo Bird Eye Chilli (ranks among top 10 hottest chilies in the world), Manipur Kachai Lemon Pickle and Bhoot Jhalokia Pickle. Handicraft items Dhokra and Bidri as well as Handlooms like Chakhesang Shawl and Banarasi Silk among many other

It is for  the first time that Aadi Mahotsav also features Nutra-beverage in 8 flavours of Gooseberry, Peach, Passion fruit, Kiwi, Grapes, Strawberry, Pear and plum.

Representing the basic ethos of tribal life, the fortnight-long festival currently on at Dilli Haat, New Delhi, features the exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery from across 28 states of the country and will give a ringside view into their rich tribal cuisine.

Another highlight of this festival is the special celebrations and performances that have been slotted for several of the days.

These include the following - All India Services day when Secretaries, Joint Secretaries from various ministries will be visiting; Sports person’s day which saw the visit by some well-known sports personalities like Shri Anupam Gulati, Commentator, Shri A. B. Subbiah, Former Indian Hockey Goal Keeper and Coach, Shri Jafar Iqbal, Former Hockey Player and Former Captain National Hockey Team. Besides these, there is the Diplomats Day (where Ministry of External Affairs officials and all Ambassadors have been invited); As a part of the festival, a grand Tribal Handloom & handcrafted products Show curated by Gramin Vikas Chetna Samiti has  been planned for 28th November; and also a classical performance by Shri Rashid Khan has been slotted for 23rd November, 2021.

At the Aadi Mahotsav, visitors can sample the best that tribal India has to offer – from the famed Maheshwari sarees of Madhya Pradesh to the warm woolens from Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, from the various immunity boosting herbs and spices procured by the tribals of Tamil Nadu to the special honey and organic produces from North-eastern India; from the reputed Toda embroidery to the moga silk from Assam and the black pottery from Nagaland. The festival is a conglomeration of a mini-India all under one roof in one place.

With the emphasis of the PM on Vocal for local and building a self-reliant India, the festival aims to bring to fore the rich art-forms and traditions of this most disadvantaged section of Indian society and help them get access to larger markets.

16-Nov-2021: Shri Sukhram Munda, The Grandson of Bhagwan Birsa Munda inaugurates Aadi Mahotsav – A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Crafts and Commerce

To commemorate the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Ltd (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India is organizing several events. One is the “Aadi Mahotsav”, a mega National Tribal Festival in Dilli Haat, New Delhi from November 16 to 30, 2021. The festival was inaugurated by Shri Sukhram Munda, The Grandson of Bhagwan Birsa Munda at 6.30 pm on November 16, 2021. Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda presided over the inaugural function. Minister of State for Education, Dr. Subhash Sarkar; Member of Parliament, Smt. M.C. Mary Kom; Chairman TRIFED, Shri Ramsinh Rathwa were the guests of honour for the inaugural function.

Shri Arjun Munda, while presiding over the function, said, “I am very proud and pleased that the Aadi Mahotsav has been established as a platform for tribal products and also a showcase for tribal culture. The Aadi Mahotsav, organised by TRIFED and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs not only provides an opportunity to expand tribal commerce but also ensures that tribal craft, cuisine and other traditions are maintained. The success of this venture and the subsequent expansion has filled tribals with a new zeal and a great sense of confidence; as they look forward for this annual event. I would like to request all Delhiites to visit this 15-day National Tribal festival and come and partake a slice of the rich and indigenous tribal culture through its cuisine, crafts, arts, and other products.”

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sukhram Munda said, “I am very happy to inaugurate this festival, which is a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas as a tribute to my grandfather, the great freedom fighter, Birsa Munda who bravely fought against the tyranny of the colonial rule and set the foundation for the importance of Jal (water), Jangal (forests) and Jameen (land) among the tribal fraternity." It also gives me great joy that the government is moving ahead with its vision to focus on empowering the tribals of our country and also reviving the memory of unsung tribal heroes.”

The Aadi Mahotsav – A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Crafts, Cuisine and Commerce – is a successful annual initiative that was commenced in 2017. The festival is an attempt to familiarise the people with the rich and diverse craft, culture of the tribal communities across the country, in one place.

While the Aadi Mahotsav was not held due to the unprecedented circumstances because of the pandemic, TRIFED resumed the tradition with a successful edition in February. The National Tribal Festival at Dilli Haat held in February 2021 comprised display and sale of tribal art and craft, medicine & healers, cuisine and folk performances, in which around 1000 tribal artisans, artists and chefs from more than 20 States of the country shall participate and provide a glimpse of their rich traditional culture.

The November edition will also showcase the rich and diverse heritage of our tribes across the country as seen in their art, handicrafts, natural produce and delectable cuisine. With over 200 stalls, it is expected that once again 1000 tribal artisans and artists will be participating in the 15-day festival. A two-day workshop cum tribal talk will also be organized to connect with the tribals. The discussion sessions have been planned around sessions on entrepreneurship development, marketing and promotion, taking tribal business online, understanding new trends and market potential for tribal artefacts, engagements of financial institutions and education for tribals. These sessions will be taken by experts from Mushroom Council of India, Andrew Yule, Reliance Foundation, Amazon, Facebook, ONGC, Tata Trusts, Paytm, SBI. Representatives from 20 major tribes of India are being invited for this two-day workshop.

Tribes constitute over 8% of our population however, they are among the disadvantaged sections of the society. An attitude that pervades among the mainstream is the erroneous belief that they have to be taught and helped. However the truth is otherwise – the tribals have a lot of teach urban India. Characterised by natural simplicity, their creations have a timeless appeal. The wide range of handicrafts which include hand-woven cotton, silk fabrics, wool, metal craft, terracotta, bead-work, all need to be preserved and promoted.

TRIFED, as the nodal agency under Ministry of Tribal Affairs, continues in its endeavour to improve the income and livelihoods of the tribal people, while preserving their way of life and traditions.

16-Feb-2021: Tribes India ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ Comes to a Successful Close

The Tribes India ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ held from 1-15 February, 2021 at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi came to a successful close last evening. The closing ceremony was presided by Shri Ramesh Chand Meena, Chairman, TRIFED in the presence of Shri Krishnadhan Das, Chairman, Tripura MARKFED and Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED. The closing programme began with the visit of dignitaries to the stalls of the festival. In his welcome address, Shri Krishna thanked the dignitaries for their visit and the residents of Delhi for making this event a grand success. He was confident that the heavy footfall and the phenomenal sales registered despite the times we live in, would definitely go a long way in helping the tribal artisans and dwellers overcome the setback that they faced during the lockdown.

The short ceremony which also saw the felicitation of the top three tribal artisans categorized in different groups such as textiles, gifts and assortments, organic products, cane and bamboo, jewellery, metal, paintings, pottery, and tribal cuisine based on their sales and popularity with the audiences. The artisans/ organisations felicitated were given a memento.

The fortnight-long National Tribal Festival saw the participation of thousands of tribal artisans, chefs, artists and cultural troupes from 25 states across the country. The rich tribal culture as evident in the form of rare tribal handicrafts, handloom and natural products, tribal cuisines were on display in about 200 stalls. The Aadi Mahotsav succeeded in winning the hearts of the residents of Delhi as witnessed by the heavy footfall over the past 15 days and the sales registered.

The wares of the tribal artisans, be it the fine Pattachitra paintings, or the lovely silks from Assam, or the exquisite tribal jewellery from Odisha and the beaded necklaces from the North-east have, have been very liked. Add to it the earthy, exotic cuisine of the tribals, ranging from momos from Sikkim to mahua laddoos from Chhattisgarh; from Dhuska and litti chokha from Jharkhand to thapdi roti of Odisha and chapda chutney of Chhattisgarh. The feasts available to one’s senses in the festival have been many.

As reported by TRIFED , perhaps making up from the losses registered due to the lockdown, the Aadi Mahotsav has seen the tribal artisans register approximately Rs 4 crore in direct sales over the past fortnight. Moreover, a purchase order worth Rs 8 crores has been placed by TRIFED; leading to a total of approximately Rs 12 crores in business transactions for the tribals participating in this festival. The Aadi Mahotsav has truly been a celebration of the spirit of tribal life – crafts, culture and cuisine.

6-Feb-2021: A glimpse of North-East at the Tribes India Aadi Mahotsav, Dilli Haat

Home to more than 200 unique tribes, the North East is one of the most diverse and vibrant areas of the country. It is not surprising then that the stalls from the North-Eastern states, exhibiting a wide range of products, form the pride of place in the Tribes Aadi Mahotsav currently underway at Dilli Haat.

The North-East tribes have a rich crafts tradition of their own, which reflect their innate natural simplicity, earthiness and identity. A glimpse of this rich tradition is on display here.  Be it superior Bodo weaves made of cotton or eri; the famed silk textiles, the warm cups and woven shawls from Nagaland and Manipur; or in the beautiful bamboo work from Assam, in the form of baskets, cane chairs, and pen and lamp stands, or in the rich organic natural produce which act as excellent immunity boosters such as honey, spices, and herbs; everything can be found at this national festival.

The Bodo women weavers, considered among the finest weavers in the region, are known for their resplendent weaves; while earlier limited to running fabrics and dokhona, now their product range has expanded. You can get kurtas, dresses, or stoles, shawls, wrap-around skits, tops and Kurtis and other accessories. Saris made of moga silk, mekhala chador, pretty embroidered blouses from Assam; knitted caps, booties for kids, and pouches from Sikkim and Manipur are also available for sale. The tribals of the North-East still produce weaves using the older back-strap loom and you can get pretty, handcrafted vibrant bags, pillow covers, pouches made in this way. The weaves have designs clearly inspired by nature and are classy, sustainable and comfortable. Another highlight is the pottery items made in the exceptional village of Longpi by the Thankul Naga tribes of Manipur. The stalls with the grey-black pots, kettles, mugs, bowls and trays stand out in the crowd. What is exceptional about these is that they aren’t made using the potter’s wheel; instead shaping is done with the hand using some moulds.

Visitors can also get high-quality organic food products such as rice varieties, such as Joha rice from Assam; the black rice from Manipur; pulses, spices such as large cardamom from Sikkim, cinnamon from Meghalaya, the famous Lakadong turmeric from Meghalaya and the well-known Naga chilis.

Besides all this, you can taste some authentic North-eastern cuisine as well at the Aadi Vyanjan.

A visit to the Aadi Mahotsav is a good way to experience the vibrant and unique culture of the North-Eastern tribal people.

The Aadi Mahotsav- A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Crafts, Culture and Commerce is on at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi till the 15th February, 2020 from 11 am to 9 pm.

The upcoming weekend of 6th and 7th February has some interesting events, with a fashion show being organised showcasing traditional handicraft artisan Ms. Ruma Devi and renowned designer Ms. Rina Dhaka’s creations.

The Aadi Mahotsav is an annual event that was started in 2017. The festival is an attempt to familiarise people with the rich and diverse craft, culture of tribal communities across the country, at one place. However, due to the pandemic, the 2020 edition of the festival could not be held.

The fortnight-long festival features the exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery and much more through 200 stalls to showcase this.  About 1000 tribal artisans and artists from across the country are participating in the festival.

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED)  under the M/o Tribal Affairs, as the nodal agency working towards tribal empowerment, has been putting in place several initiatives that help in improving the income and livelihood of the tribal people, while preserving their way of life and tradition. The Aadi Mahotsav is one such initiative that helps enable the economic welfare of these communities and bring them closer towards mainstream development.

1-Feb-2021: Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India inaugurates the fortnight-long National Tribal Festival - Aadi Mahotsav at Dilli Haat

Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India today inaugurated the tribal festival Aadi Mahotsav in New Delhi today. The Festival Aadi Mahotsav at Dilli Haat, New Delhi is being held from February 1-15, 2021. Shri Arjun Munda, Minister for Tribal Affairs; Smt Renuka Singh, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs; Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, MoS, Steel; Shri Ramesh Chand Meena, Chairman, TRIFED; Shri R. Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, MD TRIFED Sh Pravir Krishna along with senior officers of the Ministry and TRIFED were present on the occasion.

Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu formally inaugurated the festival by lighting the traditional lamp. Speaking on the occasion, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu called for a model of development that preserves the special identity of tribals. “Their culture is their identity”, he said and wanted this culture to remain intact, while drawing the Adivasis into the mainstream. Taking note of the wide range of tribal handicrafts, the Vice President emphasized the need to channelize the natural skills of tribal people to promote and popularize their products and improve their sources of income. He appreciated the Government for promoting interaction between the tribal artisans and the mainstream designers from reputed organizations. The synergy between these two can generate marketable products of art and handicraft for the top-end global market and added that it would be a win-win situation for the both, he said. He praised the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) , M/o Tribal Affairs  for doing significant work for economic empowerment of tribal communities including the promotion of e-commerce and digital platforms to take the business forward. Shri Naidu also said that the demand for organic food products is growing and TRIFED must tap this niche market. He wanted the TRIFED to ensure that the benefit of higher prices reaches the tribal population.

Presiding over the function, Shri Arjun Munda, Minister for Tribal Affairs commended the efforts of the Ministry and TRIFED for striving continuously towards the empowerment of tribals. He said, “This annual festival showcases traditional art and handicrafts and cultural heritage of the country and connects the tribal artisans with larger markets. This even brings to focus the diversity and richness of the tribes of India.” The Minister said that the government is making tremendous efforts to popularise tribal products and offer them opportunities for connecting with national and international markets. He especially highlighted “honey” produced by tribals which he said has all natural medicinal properties. Sh Arjun Munda also highlighted another great quality of tribal products which are organic in origin. He also said that the government  has plans to organise skill upgradation, better marketing skills and training for tribals so that they can tap the full potential of their products. He appealed to the people to visit the festival and enjoy the tribal culture, cuisines and artefacts.

The Aadi Mahotsav is an annual event that was started in 2017. The festival is an attempt to familiarise people with the rich and diverse craft, culture of tribal communities across the country, at one place. However, due to the pandemic, the 2020 edition of the festival could not be held.

The theme of the festival is “A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Crafts, Culture and Commerce”, which represents the basic ethos of tribal life.  The fortnight-long festival will feature the exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery and much more through 200 stalls to showcase this.  About 1000 tribal artisans and artists from across the country are participating in the festival.

Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED added, “Acclaimed artists and artisans, drawn from as many as 20 states of the country, including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and North-East states will be a part of this mega cultural razzmatazz and will showcase their traditional art, craft and culture.”

The highlight of the event is the variety of tribal handicrafts, tribal natural products, tribal cuisine and culture on display. Visitors can sample the best that tribal India has to offer – from the famed Maheshwari sarees of Madhya Pradesh to the warm woolens from Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, from the various immunity boosting herbs and spices procured by the tribals of Tamil Nadu to the special honey and organic produce from North-east India; from the reputed Toda embroidery to the moga silk from Assam and the black pottery from Nagaland. The festival is a conglomeration of a mini-India, all under one roof at one place!

Mesmerizing performances by tribals from across the country can also be viewed while enjoying exquisite tribal dishes from different parts of the country such as Dal Pitha, Dhooska, Chilka roti from Jharkhand, Gurudi, Jowar papad and roti on Mahalpatta from Maharashtra, and Samai urundai, Ragi kali and Thenai rice preparations from Tamil Nadu and pork dishes from Nagaland. The focus of the festival is to showcase the rich tribal cultural diversity, through its products, handicrafts, and art forms like-never-seen-before.

With the emphasis of the PM on Vocal for local and building a self-reliant India, the festival aims to bring to fore the rich artforms and traditions of this most disadvantaged section of Indian society and help them get access to larger markets.

TRIFED, as the nodal agency working towards tribal empowerment, has been putting in place several initiatives that help in improving the income and livelihood of the tribal people, while preserving their way of life and tradition. The Aadi Mahotsav is one such initiative that helps enable the economic welfare of these communities and bring them closer towards mainstream development.

1-Dec-2020: Arjun Munda E-Inaugurates The First Ever Virtual Aadi Mahotsav – Madhya Pradesh

Tribal Affairs Minister  Arjun Munda launched the virtual edition of Aadi Mahotsav- Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. The 10-day long festival, commencing on December 1, 2020, is being hosted on the Tribes India website(www.tribesindia.com). The main focus is on the tribal craft and culture of Madhya Pradesh.

The highlights of the virtual launch included a virtual tour of the artisans’ work place and glimpses of the tribal dance and music from Madhya Pradesh. It was also announced that the next focus state from the 11th December would be Gujarat, following which the spotlight would shift to Bengal from the 21st December, 2020.

The Aadi Mahotsav – A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Crafts, Cuisine and Commerce – is a successful initiative that was commenced in 2017. The festival was an attempt to familiarise the people with the rich and diverse craft, culture of the tribal communities across the country, in one place. Held between 16-30 November, 2019 in New Delhi, the 15-day festival featured an exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings fabric, jewellery. More than 400 tribal artisans and producers from across India enriched the festival with their participation and it received tremendous response.

Addressing on the occasion, Shri Arjun Munda said that the Virtual edition Aadi Mahotsav –Madhya Pradesh” is another effort to help in the transformation of tribal lives and livelihoods. Despite the pandemic, the team of TRIFED Warriors have organised this annual tribal festival that celebrates the spirit and richness of tribal culture virtually and are continuing with their efforts to connect the tribals to larger markets this year.

Despite the unprecedented circumstances caused due to the pandemic this year, TRIFED has moved the event online and will be hosted on the Tribes India E-Marketplace (market.tribesindia.com).

The event will showcase the tribal traditions of the various tribal communities – by having their crafts and natural produce on display. Videos showcasing different aspects of their culture – music, dance etc., will also be shared. In essence, it will still be a celebration of the tribes and their diverse, varied lifestyle but on a different platform.

17-Aug-2019: “Aadi Mahotsav” Begins at Leh-Ladakh

Aadi Mahotsav (National Tribal Festival), a joint initiative of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India & Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) begins at Polo Ground, Leh-Ladakh. The 9 day event from 17th August till 25th August, 2019 was inaugurated by Shri Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs in the august presence of Smt. Renuka Singh, Minister for State for Tribal Affairs and Shri R. C. Meena, Chairman TRIFED.

The theme of the festival is: “A celebration of the spirit of Tribal Craft, Culture and Commerce”. TRIFED essentially is to play the role of a ‘Service provider’ & ‘Market Developer.

The national object of inclusive development (sabkavikas) includes the development of tribes as an important component. Our constitution enjoins upon the Government the responsibility of addressing the special needs of the tribals. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is committed for the overall development of tribal people across the country who are deprived of the benefits of the many schemes of the government. The Government plans to setup 3000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVK) across the country in 2019-20 which include 13 VDVKs planned to setup in Ladakh.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will organize many more such Aadi Mahotsav in all State capitals and in other parts of the country in the near future which will benefit large population of tribal people of our country in all respects. Now the products of Tribal artisans are being marketed all over the country through 104 retail outlets run by TRIBES India and to 190 countries across the country through Amazon, with whom TRIBES India has an agreement.

The inaugural event had two reputed local cultural troupes presenting Ladakhi folk dances. The troupes performed Jabro Dance - a nomadic dance and song of people inhabiting eastern Ladakh and Spawo dance, a heroic song and dance associated with a legendary hero of Himalayan region called K’sar. Further on in the coming days other dance performances like Flower Dance, Abex Dance/song, Ghazal Dance, Aleyyatoo will regale the visitors.

The first of its kind event in Leh-Ladakh will see around 160 Tribal artisans from more than 20 states across the country, actively participating and showcasing their masterpieces. The product range will comprise of Tribal Textiles from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal; Tribal Jewellery from Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and North East; Tribal Paintings like Gond art from Madhya Pradesh, Worli art from Maharashtra; Metal craft from Chhattisgarh; Black pottery from Manipur, and Naturals and Organic products from Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

Mahotsav is also covering to identify:(a) Food and Forest Produces, which can be processed, value added and marketed under the Van Dhan Scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs ; and (b) Artisans and master craftsmen and women of Ladakh for empaneling them as suppliers of TRIBES India. These products can then be marketed all over the Country through the 104 retail outlets run by TRIBES India across the country and 190 countries across the world through AMAZON, with whom TRIBES India has an agreement.

The tribes constitute over 8% of the country’s population. This is a very significant number. In real terms it corresponds to over 10 crore Indians. More than 70% population of Ladakh region are tribes. The government has conceptualized of organizing Aadi Mahotsav in Leh-Ladakh in April 2019.

As the name of this event Aadi Mahotsav suggests, it is the ‘adi’ factor that is important about them. The Adivasi way of life is guided by primal truths, eternal values and a natural simplicity. The greatness of the tribes lies in this that they have managed to retain the primal skills, the natural simplicity. Their creations issue from the depths of time. This quality gives their arts and crafts a timeless appeal. The crudest tribal handicraft instantly touches a primal instinct in all of us. This is particularly true of tribal music and dance.

The Tribal Artisan Mela (TAM) has been organized during the currency of the event for livelihood generation of tribal artisans of Ladakh. During TAM, the artisans were identified and empaneled for their products selected for marketing through retail chain of network of TRIFED and also connect them for participating in the National Tribal Festivals which are being organized in all major cities/towns in the country.

7-Jan-2019: National Tribal Festival/Carnival Organised by Ministry of Tribal Affairs

National Tribal festival/carnival has been organized as an annual feature by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) since the year 2015 as detailed below. This serves to showcase the glimpses of rich cultural heritage of tribal people across the country through unique forms of folk dances, songs, cuisine, exhibition and demonstration of traditional skill in painting, art and craft, medicinal practices: 

Year	Theme	Period	Venue
2015	National Tribal Festival-Vanaj	13th–18th February,2015	Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi
2016	National Tribal Carnival – 2016	25th – 28th October,2016	Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium and Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
2017	Aadi Mahotasav	16-30 November,2017	Dilli Haat, INA, Central Park, etc., New Delhi
2018	Aadi Mahotasav	16-30 November,2018	Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs introduced a new concept of organising National Tribal Festival titled “Aadi Mahotsav” in collaboration with Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) from 2017-18 onwards. During Aadi Mahotsav 2017, a total business of Rs. 500 Lakh was transacted by tribal artisans comprising of direct sale of Rs.442 Lakh made by tribal artisans and Rs.60 Lakhs worth inventory sourced by TRIFED. The Festival showed exquisite craftsmanship of tribal artisans. Almost 800 Artisans and Artists from 27 States participated in the Mahotsav and sold their products and displayed their crafts and skill through more than 200 stalls that was set up for them. Stage programmes of tribal dances and folk songs were conducted daily. 85 Tribal Chefs from 25 States showcased tribal delicacies.

For the Aadi Mahotsav - 2018 held from November 16-30, more than 430 tribal artisans and artists from more than 20 States participated and displayed/sold their various handicraft and handloom products through 159 stalls set for the purpose and realised a direct sale of Rs.305 Lakh. Besides, TRIFED also placed purchase order to the tune of Rs.1280 Lakhs on the artisans/suppliers. 76 tribal chefs from different States also presented various tribal delicacies. 14 dance troupes comprising of more than 200 artists who presented exquisite tribal folk performances in the evenings. World class cultural programme included internationally acclaimed group like Siddhi Dhamal from Gujarat, Chau folk dance from Jharkhand, Manipuri tribal dances, dance troupe from Leh and Ladakh, Rajasthan Folk singers.

The Ministry as a step forward in this direction to highlight rich tribal culture across the country has also embarked upon an ambitious programme to hold similar events in States and Union Territories too through TRIFED.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs has helped States establish Tribal Research Institutes. Core responsibility of TRIs is to function as a body of knowledge & research, for tribal development and preservation of art and culture of tribal people. The TRIs comprise of cultural museum, library, training centre, research wing etc.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) provides funds to State Governments under the Scheme ‘Support to Tribal Research Institute (TRI)’ for the functioning of TRIs. The annual outlay of the Scheme has been enhanced from Rs. 21.00 crore in 2016-17 to Rs. 80.00 crore in 2017-18 and Rs. 100.00 crore in 2018-19. 

TRIs have carried out various activities viz. research studies, evaluation studies, organization of training/seminar/workshop, organization of tribal festivals, baseline survey, publications, documentaries / documentation, organization of exchange visits etc. over the years.

Notable works undertaken by these institutions during past four financial years and current year are detailed below: 

Activities	Quantum (in number)
Research Studies	214
Evaluation Studies	54
Training/Seminar/Workshop	277
Tribal Festivals	50
Baseline Surveys	12
Publications	170
Documentaries/Documentation	101
Exchange Visit	34

The Ministry has also developed a digital repository with web address  http://tribal.nic.in/repository where documents, folks songs, photos/videos regarding their evolution, place of origin, lifestyle, eating habits, architecture, education level, traditional art, folk dances and other anthropological details of the tribes in India are stored. The repository currently has more than 10,000 photographs, videos and publications which are mostly done by TRIs. 

15-Nov-2018: Ministry of Tribal Affairs & TRIFED to organize “Aadi Mahotsav” from 16th to 30th November, 2018 in Delhi

“Aadi Mahotsav” a National Tribal Festival is being organized in New Delhi by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED to celebrate, cherish and promote the spirit of tribal craft, culture, cuisine and commerce. Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram, said that the Mahotsav will be held from 16-30 November, 2018 at Dilli Haat, INA; from 21-30 November, 2018 at Nehru Park and from 16-19 November, 2018 at Central Park, New Delhi. The Mahotsav will comprise of display and sale of items of tribal art and craft, tribal medicine & healers, tribal cuisine and display of tribal folk performance, in which tribal artisans, chefs, folk dancers/musicians from 23 States of the country shall participate and provide glimpse of their rich traditional culture.

The theme of the festival is: “A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Craft, Cuisine and Commerce”. The festival will feature exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery and much more through 100 stalls. Over 200 tribal artisans and artists from different States creating a Mini-India will be participating in the festival.

The name of this event Aadi Mahotsav suggests, it is it’s ‘Adi’ factor that is important about them. The Adivasi way of life is guided by primal truths, eternal values and a natural simplicity. The greatness of the tribes lies in this that they have managed to retain the primal skills and natural simplicity. Their creations issue from the depths of time. This quality gives their arts and crafts a timeless appeal. The crudest tribal handicraft instantly touches a primal instinct in all of us. This is particularly true in tribal music and dance.

He informed the media that more than 600 Artisans from 23 States, 80 Tribal Chefs from more than 20 States and 14 Dance Troupes comprising more than 200 Artists will participate in the Mahotsav.

The highlights of the Mahotsav will be – Live demo for making Mahua wine, TAA Ras and Candy Mahua Imli Chutney etc; Live demo for making Lac bangles; Painting demo for 4 different school of painting i.e. Worli, Pithora, Gond and Saura; Fashion show for tribal textiles, fashion accessories etc. (23rd November) and Tribal Cuisines making and sale from different States.

Tribal products to be displayed at Mahotsav will include - Heritage collection of Sarees like Bhandara, Maheshwari Bagh, Sambalpuri, Tassar, Cotton Kantha; Silk and cotton textiles from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhad, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal; Men’s collection includes cotton, woollen and silk Jackets, Kurtas from MP, Rajasthan and Jharkhand; Bell Metal from Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh; Paintings from Gujrat, Maharashtra, Odisha and MP; Woollens from HP, Uttaranchal and J&K; Honey, spices dry fruits etc. from different States; Tribal Jewellery from Himachal, Odisha, North-East, MP, Telangana; Pottery from Manipur, Rajasthan; Home Furnishing from Rajasthan, North East, MP, UP; Bags collection from Gujrat, Telangana, Jharkhand; and Grass Mat and Coir collection from West Bengal, Jharkhand and Kerala.

15-Nov-2017: Aadi Mahotsav: Fortnight long Tribal Festival held in New Delhi.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ - a fortnight long Tribal Festival with the theme of ‘A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce’ tomorrow i.e. 16 Nov 2017 at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi.

Over 750 tribal artisans from over 25 States will be participating in the festival. Aadi Mahotsav is scheduled to be organized at four venues throughout Delhi.

The festival will run for a fortnight through 30th November 2017. The theme of the festival is: A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce. The festival will feature exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery and much more through about 200 stalls.

Over 750 tribal artisans and artists from over 25 States will be participating in the festival. A special feature of the festival is Tribal India cuisine, recreated and presented in delectable forms to suit urban tastes by special tribal chefs.

The tribes constitute over 8% of the country’s population. This is a very significant number. In real terms it corresponds to over 10 crore Indians. The national object of inclusive development (sabka vikas) includes the development of tribes as an important component. Our constitution enjoins upon the Government the responsibility of addressing the special needs of the tribes.

As the name of this event Aadi Mahotsav suggests, it is the ‘adi’ factor that is important about them. The Adivasi  way of life is guided by primal truths, eternal values and a natural simplicity. The greatness of the tribes lies in this that they have managed to retain the primal skills, the natural simplicity. Their creations issue from the depths of time. This quality gives their arts and crafts a timeless appeal. The crudest tribal handicraft instantly touches a primal instinct in all of us. This is particularly true of tribal music and dance. 

The tribes of India have a wide range of handicrafts. These include handwoven cotton, wool and silk fabrics, woodcrafts, metal craft, terracotta, bead-work, masques and other objects. They also produce compelling paintings. It is true that the tribes did not develop these arts and handicrafts for the market. They developed them for their own captive use. But we all live in a changing world. Nobody can remain unaffected by these changes. Not even the tribes. Like all of us, the tribes too now need cash for sundry purposes. It is therefore important that their natural skills must be channelled to promote their sources of income. It is for this reason that the Government seeks to promote interaction between the tribal artisans and the mainstream designers from reputed design organizations. The idea is to expand the product range and designs. The synergy between these two can generate marketable products of art and handicraft for the top-end global market. Single items of bell-metal produced by the late Jaideo Baghel of Kondagaon in Bastar sold for as much as five lacs of rupees! This only points to the fact that on the one hand there are skills in the tribal pockets of India, and on the other hand there is high-end demand in our cities and in the international market.

The need is to put two and two together for a win-win result. Events such as this Adi Mahotsav are very important in this regard. The Government has formed the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (Trifed) for achieving this. Trifed is doing significant work in this direction and have now embraced e-commerce and digital platforms to take the business forward.

The Mahotsav is an effort to take tribal commerce to the next level of digital and electronic transactions.  The Mahotsav apart from exotic handicrafts will also  showcase the electronic and digital skills of the tribes as a special attraction.