The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) Limited has been hosting Aadi Mahotsav annually since 2015 to offer direct market access to tribal master-craftspeople in big metros and state capitals.
Today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself inaugurated the largest tribal festival at Delhi's Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, paying floral tributes to the country's tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda.
Federal Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda accompanied Modi on the occasion.
Speaking at the event, India's PM expressed delight at seeing different arts, artifacts, music, and cultural displays across various products.
"I feel India’s diversity and its grandness have come together and are standing tall today, highlighting its tradition,” he stated on the occasion.
Emphasizing that the new India of the 21st century is working on the philosophy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (collective efforts, inclusive growth), Modi said that the government is making efforts to reach out to people who have been unreached for a long time.
“During the last 8-9 years, events like Aadi Mahotsav have become a movement for the country. I too take part in several events. I do it because the welfare of the tribal society is a personal as well as an emotional subject for me,” the prime minister stated.
All You Need to Know About Aadi Mahotsav
Taking place on February 16-27 in Delhi, Aadi Mahotsav celebrates Indian tribal culture, cuisine, commerce, and traditional arts. The grand festival perfectly aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision “Vocal for Local” and the government's efforts to showcase tribal culture on the national stage.
This year, the theme of the festival is “A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Crafts, Culture, Cuisine and Commerce,” representing the basic ethos of tribal life.
The 11-day tribal festival features over 200 stalls highlighting the diversity of India's indigenous population. The stalls have tribal handicrafts, handlooms, paintings, jewelry, cane and bamboo, pottery, food and natural products, gifts and assortment, tribal cuisine, and much more.
About 1,000 artisans from 28 states and union territories are displaying and selling handicrafts, handloom, pottery, and jewelry at the event. Besides this, 39 tribal community-owned "Van Dhan Vikas Kendras" from 17 states and union territories are also participating.
The festival will also have a special focus on “Shree Anna,” or millets grown by tribal communities, highlighting the federal government’s International Year of Millets initiative.
The event will be marked by tribal cultural performances by at least 500 tribal artists based on tribal rituals, harvest, festivals, martial art forms, etc. from about 20 states in the country.
Other highlights of the tribal festival are a tribal freedom fighters gallery, where stories of tribal freedom fighters will be narrated twice a day by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and North Central Zone Cultural Center (NCZCC).