Set amidst the Sahyadri ranges, Jawhar in Palghar district stands as a destination where tangible and intangible heritage come together seamlessly. Its landscape, history, and living traditions form a layered cultural experience.
The Jawhar Palace, a legacy of the Mukne dynasty, represents Jawhar’s tangible heritage—rooted in history, architecture, and place. Complementing this are the seasonal waterfalls, also known as Dhabdhaba, which shape the natural and cultural rhythms of the region.
Equally vital is Jawhar’s intangible heritage, expressed through its vibrant Warli painting tradition , skilled bamboo crafts and Bohada Masks. Warli art, with its simple forms and profound storytelling, reflects everyday life, nature, and community memory. Bamboo craft, practiced across generations, embodies indigenous knowledge, sustainability, and creativity woven into daily use. Bohada masks intricately shaped which finely weaves tales of local folklore , mythology and identity.
Together, Jawhar emerges as a living heritage destination—where palaces and landscapes coexist with art forms and crafts that continue to be practiced, shared, and passed on.

#jawhar #jaivilaspalace #bohada #palghardistrict #tadpa #tribaldance

The colours are brighter, the crafts are alive, and the stories are unfolding —Pune Bazaar 2026 is in full swing!

From intricate Warli paintings to bamboo basketry reimagined for today’s homes, this exhibition brings you traditional art with a modern twist, handcrafted by rural artisans of Maharashtra who continue to keep these living traditions alive.

✨ Meet the makers, take home handcrafted pieces that blend heritage and utility, and support rural livelihoods through conscious buying!

This impact is already visible through the incredible response to artists Sangeeta Vangad, Yamuna Surti, and Kanchan Surti from Gholwad village, Palghar district.

📍Venue: Rohi Villa Palace, Koregaon Park, Pune
📅Dates: 6 – 12 January 2026
⏰ Time:11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Step in, slow down, and let craft become a part of your everyday life.

In Jawhar, folk dance traditions such as Tadpa, Dhol, Morga and Gavari live through rhythm, movement and collective memory. Rooted in land, seasons and ritual life, these traditions continue to be passed down as living heritage within the community.
To curate heritage-sensitive presentations and integrate these traditions in experential tourism offering, capacity-building workshops were conducted in Sarsun, Sakharshet, Shiroshi and Beriste villages engaging artists who have carried these forms for generations. The sessions focused on performance, storytelling and stage awareness, helping artists present their traditions with confidence while staying true to their roots.
In the coming days, similar workshops will be conducted across many more villages, widening this shared journey of safeguarding living traditions.
These vibrant art forms will be celebrated and showcased at the Palghar ICH Festival, from February 20–22, bringing living heritage to the forefront and honouring the communities that keep it alive.

#exploremaharashtra #explorejawhar #palghardistrict #tapdance #ichfestival #tribalart #tribaldance

Ganjad —Padmashri Jivya Soma Mashe’s birthplace—still breathes Warli in its soil. Here, lines are not just drawn, they are inherited. From walls to memories, Ganjad remains the cradle where different streams of Warli painting continue to flow, shaped by time yet rooted in tradition.
Within this landscape, the Warli Guru–Shishya Parampara workshop unfolded as a quiet but powerful process of heritage-sensitive diversification. Over 14 days, 42 participants—many of them young—learnt not only techniques, but ways of seeing. Guided by the guru–shishya tradition, they moved between traditional wall practices and newer surfaces, always anchored in Warli themes, rituals, and visual language.
The workshop concluded with a shared sense of motivation and renewed confidence. Participants spoke of growth—not just in skill, but in their relationship with their own culture. Their works will now travel to the upcoming Palghar ICH Festival (20-22 february) carrying forward a living legacy—where Warli is not preserved as the past, but practiced as the present.

#ganjad #warli #gurushishyaparampara #warliworkshop #jivyasomamashe #warliart #maharashtra #MaharashtraCulture #tribalart

From everyday utility to contemporary elegance, bamboo basketry in Gholwad, Palghar tells a story of evolution

What once began as a simple support for daily life—crafted to meet basic needs—has today transformed into a diverse range of utilitarian yet aesthetic creations. Rooted in tradition, the artisans of Gholwad have reimagined bamboo, infusing age-old techniques with modern purpose.

Through upskilling and innovation, this craft has become more than an artform—it is a source of empowerment, pride, and livelihood. Each woven piece reflects not just skilled hands, but a growing identity— one that places Gholwad and its bamboo artisans firmly on the cultural map.

#bamboo #intangibleculturalheritage #MaharashtraCulture #traditionalart #bambooart