Tribal Celebration, Warli Art by Dilip Bahotha

Dilip Bahotha illustrates the scene of merry-making and tribal celebration in this Warli Art. Capturing the mundane lives of tribal people, going about their day, this painting brings out the tribal expression of joy through a tarpa dance. The tarpa, a trumpet-like instrument, is played by a man in the center of the dance formation. Men and women entwine their hands and move in a circle around the tarpa player. The musician plays two different notes, which direct the head dancer to either move clockwise or counterclockwise. The tarpa player assumes a role similar to that of a snake charmer, and the dancers become the figurative snake. The dancers take long turns in the audience and try to encircle them for entertainment. The circle formation of the dancers is also said to resemble the circle of life. As the dancers are performing the tarpa, they have in the audience the other local tribal men and women tending to their children, and doing their everyday chores while also enjoying the performance.