Understanding Aadi Mahotsav

Aadi Mahotsav is a national initiative aimed at showcasing tribal culture, tradition, and heritage on a national platform. The festival is a celebration of tribal art, cuisine, commerce, and crafts.

• The festival is an annual event organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Limited (TRIFED).
• Aadi Mahotsav is a national level tribal festival that honours the products, culture, and heritage of Indian tribes.

About Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Limited (TRIFED)

• TRIFED is a national-level apex body operating under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' supervision, providing administrative oversight.
• It offers services to tribal communities, enabling them to market their products effectively.
• The organization aims to equip tribal people with the necessary knowledge, tools, and resources to streamline their operations.
• TRIFED's primary objective is to promote the socioeconomic development of tribal communities in India by marketing tribal products, including metal crafts, tribal textiles, pottery, tribal paintings, and more.
• Learn more about TRIFED in the linked article.

Highlights of Aadi Mahotsav 2023

• The Prime Minister was presented with Pashmina Wool from Ladakh, Patchitra painting, Dhokara Sculpture from Chattisgarh, and Shree Anna basket.
• Dance Performances Included:
  • Assam’s Bagurumba
  • Chhattisgarh’s Panthi Dance
  • Telangana’s Gusadi
  • Madhya Pradesh’s Baiga Pardhauni
  • Sikkim’s Tamang Selo
  • Gujarat’s Siddhi Dhamal
  • Uttarakhand’s Harul dance

The Importance of Aadi Mahotsav

• The Prime Minister stressed that Aadi Mahotsav reinforces India's unity in diversity and promotes the idea of development through heritage.
• As 2023 has been declared as the International Year of Millets , there will be a special focus on showcasing Shree Anna, a term recently introduced by the government for millets cultivated by tribals.