Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali, Mumbai is situated in a large area near Mumbai. People of various tribes are still living. One of the famous tribe is the Warli tribe. This tribe is generally from the North Sahyadri Range in Maharashtra, India. These tribes can be found in Dahanu, Talasari, Jawhar, Palghar, Mokhada and Vikramgad under Palghar District near Mumbai. They have a specific painting representing their folk dance culture called “Warli” Painting.
Ritual paintings are generally made on the inner walls of village huts. Villagers made these walls by a mixture of branches, red bricks that form a red ocher background for the paintings on which painting is done by white color which looks imposing. White color is simply a dye which is a mixture of white pigment, water and rice flour. To have a texture of paint brush they chew a bamboo stick. The house huts are painted by these Warli paintings on the occasion of harvests, weddings or any local festival.
In these basic wall paintings they use simple geometric shapes: a circle, a triangle and a square that symbolize the various elements of Mother Nature. The sun and moon symbolized as circle and the mountains and conical trees symbolized as triangle. In above painting we can see the Wedding ceremony is depicted. Bride and Groom are standing the pavilion. Musicians are playing the music for celebration and dancers are enjoying the function. It is a wonderful art.
In above painting, we can see the routine day at the village. A village home with residents are doing house hold work. Two women are sitting and grinding the grains by hand mill. One women is cleaning the area and one is bringing the water filled pot on her head. On the right side we can see the people going for graze for their pets. On left side we can see the coconut tree with bird nest and birds are flying. Over all we can see the happiness in this painting.
The important element depicted in many Warli paintings is known as Tarpa Dance which is depicted in above painting. The Tarpa which is trumpet-like musical instrument, is played by villagers specifically Men. Men and women holding each other hands and moving with dance in a circle around the Men who is playing the Tapra instrument. We can see in the center of above painting. There are two men, one is playing Tarpa and other is playing drum. The dancers follow the rhythm played by the Tarpa player. The Tarpa player plays two types of rhythm, one is for clockwise and one is for anti clockwise. Tarpa player also plays the music like Snake Charmer and dancers also dance like imaginative snake. The dancers keeps moving in a long turn through the audience and try to motivate them to join for entertainment. This circle formation is also known as the Circle of Life in their community.
You can visit this village home at Tumnipada in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali (East), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. City bus service is available in the park but currently closed due to pandemic but Park is open for roaming by walk or by cycling only. Private vehicle are now restricted in order to avoid pollution. Soon electric vehicles will be arranged by the management of the park. You can opt a bicycle on rent for roaming in the park. For Bicycle information you can read a special post on Amazing Cycling experience at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali.
Also, you can see the two offices at Borivali Railway Station platform no 1 painted with Warli painting.
How to reach?
- From Chatrapati ShivajI Maharaj International Airport: Take a cab directly to Borivali and on the Western Express Highway at Borivali you will find the Main Entrance Gate. Distance is around 19km which may take 1 hrs in traffic condition. Or go to Santacruz Railway Station by taxi and take a local train and get down at Borivali Railway Station East side. You will find the direction board at the Station.
- **From Chatrapati ShivajI Maharaj Terminus:**Go to Churchgate Railway Station by taxi and take a Local train and get down at Borivali Railway Station. Or take a cab directly but it will take so much time due to traffic and distance is around 40km which will take 2 hrs minimum.
Have you seen any Warli painting on any Home/ Office/ Shops/ Building?? or any of your ritual painting in your country?
Please share your experience with us.
Thank you… 
