Under the 33rd series of its online exhibition, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, on Wednesday presented the Warli House, warli tribe lives in the regions like Dahanu, Talsari, Jawahar, Palghar and Mokhada talukas of Thane district, some parts of Nasik & Dhule districts of Maharashtra, and spread up to Valsad districts of Gujarat and in the union territories of Dadra, Nagar Haveli situated in the Open Air Exhibition of Tribal Habitat of Manav Sangrahalaya has been presented online with its basic information and photographs and videos.
About this exhibition, Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that – The word ‘Warli’ is derived from the word ‘warul’ means ‘Piece of Land’. Warlis are mostly agriculturists. Fishing and poultry farming are their secondary occupation. The warli customs and traditions are weaved around Mother Nature. They show immense respect towards the nature and wild life.
The warli hut consists of a simple earthen foundation and always square in shape. Before construction the Shaman select and examine the place for construction and perform rituals to detect evil elements, then worship. When he gives positive sign, the construction starts.
Warli houses are built with plastered mud wall made of Karvi and supple bamboo. The floor of the house is plastered with cow dung. Mud is a major material used for plinth, flooring and grinding.
They commonly use palm leaves and paddy straw for thatching which keeps the houses considerably cool during summer, and the roof never leaks in spite of heavy monsoon. Warli houses are not just a shelter but a symbol of protective living. A central wooden pillar symbolizes the eternal connection of the sun and the earth. It is also associated with a belief in the formation of a family.
On the top there is an attic used for storage purposes. The orientation of the house is preferably made east facing. There is only one door which serves as the main door for entrance. As they keep animals inside the house for good care, there is an additional door, but there is no window. During the sowing season God of rains ‘Naran Dev’, ‘Himai Devi’ and ‘Hirva’ the domestic gods are worshipped. Before harvesting, the goddess of fields ‘Savari’ and the goddess of Corn known as Kansari Devi are also offered prayers and worshipped.
The reaping season calls for celebration and glorification of the tiger god (Vaghadev/Waghya). Every warli village has a village god who believed to be the god who protects their cattle and the village. In some paintings the shrine of the god is shown. At the time of marriage “Palaghata” the goddess of fertility is worshipped.