Heritage Villages of Maharashtra

An initiative of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)

Experience the Hidden Gems: Palghar and Nashik

This platform is a celebration of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Maharashtra's tribal communities. From their mesmerizing performing arts and intricate crafts to their sacred rituals and daily ways of life, we aim to showcase these living traditions. Supported by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, this project creates a unique bridge between travelers and the communities of Palghar and Nashik. Each featured village opens a doorway into a deeper, more personal cultural experience, inviting you to meet local artists, participate in vibrant festivals, learn traditional skills, and indulge in the local delicacies. By fostering community-led tourism that is rooted in authenticity and respect, we work to preserve these cultural treasures for future generations while creating sustainable opportunities for the very people who keep them alive.

Experience Palghar

A Treasure Trove of Culture, Serenity and Tourism

Warli Painting

The Geometry of Life and Nature

Folk Music and Dance

Rhythm of the Soul, Pulse of the Land

Bamboo Craft

Weaving Tradition with Green Living

Heritage Villages

Where Traditional Culture comes alive in Collective Harmony

Attractions

Journeys through Culture and Natural Gems

Culinary Heritage

Where Coastal Flavors meet Tribal Traditions

Experience Nashik

An Amalgamation of Natural Abundance and Living Heritage

Bohada Mask

Handcrafted Masks bringing Mythology to Life

Folk Music and Dance

Rhythms connecting People

Western Ghats

UNESCO's Green Treasure of Life, Legacy and Landscapes

Heritage Villages

Where Tradition resonates in every Alley

Attractions

Timeless Experiences nestled in the Ghats

Culinary Heritage

Forgotten Flavours from the Ghats

Events

September 19–21, 2025

Surgana, Maharashtra

Nashik Festival

Celebrate the ancient tribal art form with artists demonstrating traditional Warli painting techniques.

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September 18–23, 2025

Palghar and Nashik

Flip the Lens

Celebrate the ancient tribal art form with artists demonstrating traditional Warli painting techniques.

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February 20–22, 2026

Ganjad, Gholwad and Bapugaon

Palghar Festival

Celebration of the Intangible Cultural Heritage : Colours of Culture, Imprints of Tradition

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October 3–4, 2026

Divya Vidyalaya Ground, Jawhar, Palghar

Palghar Festival 2026

Palghar Living Heritage Festival | 3–4 October 2026

The two-day Jawhar Living Heritage Festival, held on 3–4 October 2026 at Divya Vidyalaya Ground, celebrated the region’s living heritage through folk performances by groups from various villages, Warli art, Bohada masks, bamboo craft, traditional music and dance. The festival brought together artists, craftspeople, knowledge holders, community members and visitors, providing a platform to showcase local traditions and encourage engagement with intangible cultural heritage. The event was graced by Padma Shri Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda, MLA Harishchandra Sakharam Bhoye, Shri Santosh Rokade, Shri P. K. Sidharth Ram Kumar and other dignitaries, along with representatives of IATO, MTDC, educational institutions and the media.

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October 2–4, 2026

Surgana, Nashik

Nashik Festival 2026

Nashik Living Heritage Festival | 2–4 October 2026

The Nashik Living Heritage Festival, held at Shribhuvan Chinchpada and Pimpalsond villages in Surgana, celebrated the region’s rich cultural traditions through Thakar dance, Madal performances, Bohada masks, craft demonstrations and participatory experiences for visitors. On 2 October 2026, the Bohada Information Centre was inaugurated at Pimpalsond to document the histories, masks, stories and folklore associated with the region’s distinctive ritual theatre tradition. The celebrations were graced by Shri Bhaskar Bhagare, Member of Parliament, Dindori; Shri Nitin Pawar, MLA, Kalwan; Shri Santosh Rokade, Deputy Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra; Shri Jagdish Chavan, Regional Manager, MTDC Nashik; Shri Pravin Shah, Chairman of IATO Maharashtra and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman Chapter; and other dignitaries. Members of the IATO delegation, local administration, Panchayat representatives, media personnel, photographers, bloggers and community members also attended, strengthening connections between local cultural heritage and tourism stakeholders

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Social Wall

See what travelers and locals are sharing about their cultural experiences

Explore Maharashtra - MTDC2 days ago

We are delighted to see our work featured in Anandabazar Patrika’s ‘Kolkatar Kadcha’ today!

At Banglanatak dot com, we believe that living heritage is an integral part of our cultural life, carried forward by the people who practise, nurture and pass on their traditions. Through Living Heritage Festivals across Koraput, Palghar and Nashik, and publications that document local knowledge and cultural practices, we work to create greater recognition for traditional artists and help keep these traditions alive for future generations.

A special highlight is our recently published book, 'Journeys through the Living Heritage of Palghar and Nashik', supported by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). The book explores the region’s rich natural and cultural landscape, bringing together its wildlife, art forms, traditions and the stories of its communities.

Our heartfelt thanks to Anandabazar Patrika for featuring our work and recognising the folk artists and communities who keep India’s living heritage vibrant and thriving.

#BanglanatakDotCom #LivingHeritage #AnandabazarPatrika #CulturalHeritage #FolkArt #Palghar #Nashik #Koraput #PreservingHeritage

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Explore Maharashtra - MTDC1 week ago

This International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, we celebrate the living traditions of Maharashtra with the launch of our new digital exhibit on Google Arts & Culture: Bohada Masks and Myths: Ritual, Craft and Storytelling Tradition of Maharashtra’s Tribal Heartland.

Across the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats, Bohada brings together ritual, mythology, storytelling and community participation. Celebrated every year between March and May, the Bohada festival transforms villages into vibrant spaces of ritual and performance. Performers wear handcrafted masks and take part in a sacred procession dedicated to Maa Jagadamba, bringing mythological characters, sacred beliefs and local stories to life through movement, music and traditional instruments.

From Ravana, the ten-headed figure of the Ramayana, to Maa Jagadamba, the revered regional deity, the masks reflect the cultural identity, folktales and beliefs of tribal communities in Surgana taluka, Nashik district. Made using traditional paper mâché techniques and knowledge passed down through generations, each mask represents the skill and creativity of the artists who keep this craft alive.

Our new digital exhibit brings these stories, masks and artistic practices to a wider audience while also exploring the knowledge behind mask-making and the efforts to sustain this craft through various means.

This work extends beyond documentation. The Bohada Information Centre at Pimpalsond, established with support from the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in a space donated by an artist’s family, offers a place to discover and learn about the tradition.

Through this digital story, we celebrate not only a distinctive ritual tradition and its remarkable masks, but also the communities, knowledge and creativity that sustain it.

Discover Bohada’s stories, masks and myths in our new digital exhibit on Google Arts & Culture.

🔗 Explore the exhibit: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/PwUBu1ST-GmMmw

#InternationalDayOfTheIntangibleCulturalHeritage #LivingHeritage #Bohada #Maharashtra #GoogleArtsAndCulture #IntangibleCulturalHeritage

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Explore Maharashtra - MTDC3 weeks ago

As the Living Heritage Festivals in Nashik and Palghar come to an end, we are happy to look back on a few wonderful days of celebrating the region’s living traditions.

From the launch of the Bohada Information Centre at Pimpalsond to the release of the Palghar and Nashik coffee table book, the festivals brought together artists, communities, visitors and partners to share the rich cultural heritage of these regions.

Pimpalsond and Shribhuvan Chinchpada at Surgana, Nashik and Jawhar, Palghar came alive with folk performances, workshops, village visits, craft demonstrations and conversations around traditions that continue to be part of everyday life. From Bohada, Warli and Tarpa to Pawri, Thakar and other local traditions, the festivals offered an opportunity to meet the people who keep this heritage alive and experience it in its own cultural setting.

A heartfelt thank you to Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) as the Living Heritage Festivals are part of its initiative to develop Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)-based tourism in Nashik and Palghar. A special thanks also goes to the ITDP, the district administration, Jawhar Municipal Council, IATO Mumbai and all our partners and supporters who joined us and encouraged the artists and communities.

We are also grateful to the media, photographers, influencers and content creators who visited Nashik and Palghar, captured the essence o f the festivals and shared these stories with a wider audience.

Most importantly, thank you to the artists, community members, local hosts and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make these festivals possible.

We also thank UNESCO for featuring the festivals as part of “Whispers of the Western Ghats: Living Heritage Festival at Palghar and Nashik” on its Intangible Cultural Heritage platform.

The festivals may have come to an end, but the villages, traditions and stories continue. To know more about these villages and plan your own journey through their living heritage, visit:

www.heritagevillagesmtdc.com

Read more on UNESCO:
https://ich.unesco.org/en/activities/whispers-of-the-western-ghats-living-heritage-festival-at-palghar-and-nashik-00772

#LivingHeritageFestival #Nashik #Palghar #Surgana #Jawhar #ExploreMaharashtra #MTDC #IntangibleCulturalHeritage #OurCultureOurPride

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Explore Maharashtra - MTDC3 weeks ago

The final day is here!

After days of vibrant celebrations, the Nashik Folk Festival and Palghar Festival come to a close today, bringing communities, artists and visitors together to celebrate the rich living heritage of Maharashtra.

Nashik Folk Festival | Day 3 | 4 October
Bohada artist workshop, Bohada Nritya, Toor Nritya, Dongri Mauli Nritya, village visit, Bagh Pawri Nritya and Thakar Nritya, followed by the festival closing.

Palghar Festival | Day 2 | 4 October
📍 Divya Vidyalaya Ground, Jawhar
Warli and Bamboo workshops, Bohada and Tarpa Nritya, followed by Dangi, Gauri, Thakar Nritya and Dera Geet, and the closing of the festival.

Come spend the final day with us and experience Maharashtra through its people, performances, crafts and living traditions.

This is the second edition of the Living Heritage Festivals and part of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)'s initiative to develop Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)-based tourism in Nashik and Palghar.

Special Mention: The festivals are part of “Whispers of the Western Ghats: Living Heritage Festival at Palghar and Nashik”, featured on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage platform.

Moreover, a heartfelt thank you to the media for covering the festivals and helping bring these stories, artists and living traditions to a wider audience.

Read more on UNESCO:
https://ich.unesco.org/en/activities/whispers-of-the-western-ghats-living-heritage-festival-at-palghar-and-nashik-00772

#NashikFolkFestival #PalgharFestival #ExploreMaharashtra #MTDC #LivingHeritage #IntangibleCulturalHeritage #UNESCO #WesternGhats #Maharashtra #Bohada #Warli #Tarpa #TribalCulture #CulturalTourism #BanglanatakDotCom

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Explore Maharashtra - MTDC3 weeks ago

Jawhar comes alive with Living Heritage!

The Jawhar Festival, part of Explore Maharashtra by MTDC, began today with a vibrant celebration of the region’s rich cultural traditions. Bringing together artists, communities, visitors and cultural enthusiasts, the festival creates a space to experience Jawhar through its music, dance, crafts and living heritage.

The opening day saw traditional performances, cultural interactions and enthusiastic participation from visitors who came together to celebrate the diverse heritage of Palghar. We were honoured by the presence of representatives from the district administration, Maharashtra Tourism, ITDP, Jawhar Municipal Council, IATO Mumbai and other cultural and community stakeholders.

Tomorrow is the final day of the festivals happening both at Nashik and Palghar.

📍 Jawhar, Palghar | 4 October

The day will feature Warli and Bamboo workshops, Bohada and Tarpa Nritya, Dangi, Gauri, Thakar Nritya and Dera Geet, followed by the closing of the festival.

And in Nashik, the final day will bring Bohada artist workshops, Bohada, Toor and Dongri Mauli Nritya, a village visit, Bagh Pawri and Thakar Nritya, followed by the festival closing.

Come experience Maharashtra through its people, traditions and living heritage.

#JawharFestival #OurCultureOurPride #NashikFolkFestival #ExploreMaharashtra #MTDC #Palghar #Nashik #LivingHeritage #CulturalTourism #TraditionalArts

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Explore Maharashtra - MTDC3 weeks ago

Bohada Folk Information Centre as part of MTDC initiative to develop ich based tourism in Palghar and Nashik , was inaugurated yesterday at Pimpalsond in Surgana.
An interactive space with display of objects and masks attracted a lot of people on the second day of the festival including students, making it a grand success of a living community museum.

#communitymuseum #mtdc #festival #pimpalsond