Warli Way of Life, Warli Art by Dilip Bahotha

Dilip Bahotha paints the Warli Tribal Life in this Warli art. The Warli tribe practices a communal way of living and typically resides in small hamlets or villages called “padas,” which consist of a cluster of huts. The community members share resources, and responsibilities, and celebrate important occasions collectively. Since farming is the tribe’s way of living, they have immense respect for nature and wildlife for the resources that they provide. Many of their rituals and ceremonies are closely connected to the agricultural cycle and natural phenomena, like the Harvest Festival or the Rain Dance are celebrated to express gratitude to nature for its bounty and seek blessings for a prosperous future. Considered the original inhabitants of this land, the identity of the Warli people is tied to these forests. The Warli way of life is the way of the forest. The Warli tribal way of life is deeply rooted in their relationship with nature, sustainable practices, community cohesion, and cultural expressions.