The festival themed ‘Experience Palghar- Colours of Culture, Imprints of Tradition’ celebrated the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the region woven into its vibrant tapestry.
By Shreya Shimpi
The Palghar Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival hosted by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation was a resounding success across its three venues, celebrating the living traditions of the region. The event bought together authentic regional experiences, community-led activites and immersive rural landscapes highlighting Palghar’s spellbinding cultural kalediescope.
On the opening day at Gholwad, the festival was inaugurated by Padma Shri Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda in the presence of officials from Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, local administration, tourism stakeholders, and media representatives including BBC and Divya Bhaskar. The venue was subsequently visited by Vijay Suryavanshi, IAS, Divisional Commissioner of Konkan Division; Manoj Ranade, CEO Palghar Zilla Parishad; Vishal Khatri, IAS, Project Officer ITDP Dahanu and SDO; Geetanjali Bawaskar, CEO of Khadi Gramodyog; and Pallavi Saste, Block Development Officer. The dignitaries appreciated the community museum and MTDC’s initiative to promote tourism rooted in intangible cultural heritage.
At Ganjad, the inauguration was attended by the Padma Shri awardee along with MTDC officials, Sailesh Karmora, Zilla Parishad Member, and Insang Song, an art enthusiast and collector from South Korea, alongside eminent Warli artists; the Block Development Officer also visited and interacted with participating artists. At Bapugaon, the festival was inaugurated by the local administration and artists, with participation from neighbouring village sarpanchs including Bapugaon, Saiwan, Vaghare, Dharampur, Nimbapur, and Raipur, where the visiting Padma Shri laureate engaged with artists and students, encouraging the continuation of traditional knowledge.
The first day across all three sites reflected strong community involvement, administrative support, and a shared commitment to culture-led sustainable tourism. In Gholwad, the day commenced on an energetic note with a scintillating Tarpa dance performance followed by Thakar dance from a Nasik troupe, Koli Dance, and Thali Badya. Interactive bamboo art along with the Date Palm and Coconut Leaf Craft workshops kept participants engaged. The day concluded with an enthralling Gavari and Kambadi dance.
Parallely, Ganjad saw art come to life through interactive Warli art workshops and folk performances such as Bagh Pawri dance from Nasik, Tarpa dance, gavari dance, Sambhal and Kambali dance. The highlight of the day was a visit to Late Padma Shri Jivya Soma Mashe’s house where attendees had the opportunity of exploring his painting collections. In Bapugaon, the festival drew enthusiastic participation from local people as well as tourists. The day began with a folk performance (Hodi dance) followed by a guided viewing of Warli painting exhibition at the festival ground with the artist. The Workshop on Tarpa instrument making and Warli painting drew enthusiastic participation from kids and the local community. The day concluded with soulful folk performances such as Dongri Dev dance and Madal dance of Nashik.
The festival sustained its vibrant momentum over the next two days showcasing the best of Palghar’s traditions and culture through art, music and dance. The highlight of the second day was the presence of Padma Shri Bhiklya Ladkya Dhinda, a respected cultural icon who has dedicated his life preserving local folk culture and the traditional tarpa instrument. He interacted with the locals and also played the Tarpa instrument for everyone. Dance performances such as Tipri, Koli, Thakar, Dhak badya, Sambhal, Dhol kept the festive spirit high.
Alongside the performances, the local artisans showcased artistic bamboo and Warli artworks. Food stalls offered the attendees to savour local delicacies such as nachni bhakri, Ukdiche modak, gavthi chicken and fish preparations. Stalls also featured GI tag Chikoos and Chikoo products-a hallmark of Palghar. The festival was a mesmerising melange of art, music, dance, gastronomy and culture, all at its best and it reaffirmed Palghar’s appeal to discerning travellers seeking meaningful engagement beyond conventional itineraries.The festival unfolded as an enchanting bouquet of rich opportunities for meaningful features, immersive visual storytelling, and compelling travel narratives that highlight lesser-known destinations and amplifying authentic voices from the grassroots.
Follow BOTT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Subscribe BOTT Channels on WhatsApp & Telegram to receive real time updates
