Maharashtra Tourism Department to Host State-Level NT-DNT Festival in Mumbai
MUMBAI — The Maharashtra Tourism Department will organise a state-level festival in Mumbai to showcase the art, culture, traditions, and creative talents of the state's 52 Nomadic and Denotified Tribes (NT-DNT) communities. The announcement was made by Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai during the ‘Shiv Sena Nomadic and Denotified Tribes Rights, Justice and Development Conference’ held on the occasion of Vimukta Divas at the Shri Shanmukhananda Auditorium in Sion.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attended the conference in Sion, where he released an informational booklet detailing various Nomadic and Denotified communities and launched a dedicated website.
Speaking at the event, Desai praised Shinde’s efforts in bringing together the 52 communities across Maharashtra. He stated that the Deputy Chief Minister had entrusted the Tourism Department with creating a prominent platform to present the traditions and artistic expressions of these groups to domestic and international tourists.
Desai noted that the Tourism Department will take immediate steps to organise the grand cultural event under the guidance of Minister Sanjay Rathod.
According to the Tourism Department, the planned festival aims to introduce visitors to the rich cultural landscape and folk heritage of the NT-DNT populations. The event will feature the diverse traditions and folk arts of multiple communities, including Vasudev, Pingla, Bahurupi, Nathjogi/Bharadi, Nandiwale, Patharwat, Vadar, Dombari-Kolhati, Chapparband, Garudi, Lohar-Ghisadi, Makadwale-Kaikadi, Bhat, Bhoi-Kahar, Chitrakathi, Beldar, Banjara, Malanjogi, Otari, Gosavi, and Gondhali, among others.
Through this initiative, the department seeks to present traditional occupations, distinctive lifestyles, and indigenous folk art forms to a broader audience, allowing tourists to experience cultural traditions that form an integral part of the state’s identity.
Desai reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring justice, rights, and development for the NT-DNT communities, emphasising that ongoing measures will focus on their overall socio-economic progress as well as the preservation and promotion of their cultural heritage.
