Warli paintings take their name from the tribal community on the northern edge of the Sahyadri Range in Maharashtra, primarily in Thane and Palghar districts, with Dahanu and Jawhar at the forefront. The tribal art style dates back to the 10th century AD and has traditionally been used by the tribals to decorate walls of their mud houses on special cultural occasions like harvest and weddings. The most important aspect of the painting is that it doesn’t depict any mythological characters or images of deities but portrays the circle of life and respect for nature, farming and wildlife. Pictures of human beings and animals, along with scenes from daily life are created in a lopse rhythmic pattern. Traditionally painted on hut walls using rice paste, Warli art depicts daily life, farming, dance, and rituals through simple geometric forms—circle, triangle, and square. This art is a vivid expression of the daily and social life of the tribal people as well as showcase of close connection between nature and the tribes. It was the medium to transmit the folklore to a community which is not acquainted with the written word. Warli painting has held a Geographical Indication (GI) tag since 2014. It is a legal recognition, under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, that ties the art form to its place of origin and ensures only authorised practitioners can use its name commercially. Traditional Painting Method Preparation: Shen (Cow dung Mixture): Filtered Extract of cow dung mixed with sufficient water content to form homogeneous paste Geru/Lal Mati (Earth Mixture): Filtered & fine powder of Geru mixed with water to form liquid colour Pitha cha Rang (Rice Powder Paste): White colour is obtained from grinding soaked rice with water. Salatichi Kaadi / (Bamboo Stick/Brush): Bamboo Stick crushed at end to form as brush Painting: Lipane: The wall is coated by earth to make level & smooth background for painting. Saravane: The wall is coated by cow dung paste to make austere background for painting. Lihane: Making Painting on wall with rice paste by using bamboo stick as painting brush Key Features of Warli Painting Origin: Maharashtra, particularly the Palghar district, dating back potentially to the 10th century AD or Neolithic era. Warli Painting is practiced by the Warli tribesmen of Malhar Koli and Warli Tribe, found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Dadara & Nagar Haveli, Daman Diu Themes: Depicts daily activities like farming, dancing, hunting, festivals, and scenes from village life. Symbolism: Circles represent the sun and moon, triangles denote mountains and trees, and squares signify a sacred enclosure or piece of land. Though geometrical shapes are used in this, there is no measurement to do Warli painting Technique: Traditionally painted on mud walls using a paste made of rice, water, and gum applied with a bamboo stick. Modern artists often use acrylic paints on paper or canvas. Key Artists: Jivya Soma Mashe is recognized for popularizing this art form beyond traditional ritualistic scenes, bringing it to a global audience Source : GI tags of India Registry