The history of Warli painting dates back thousands of years. This rich artistic heritage seems to have begun as early as 10,000 BC. Echoes of the Warli’s distinctive style of mural painting can be found at the Bhimbetka rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh. Warli painting is thus established as an incredibly ancient tradition of visual storytelling.
Some scholars believe that the Warli people are descendants of the people of Varlat, who were mentioned by the Greek ethnographer Megasthenes in the 3rd century BC. This region, located near present-day Dharampur in Maharashtra, was known in ancient times as Warlat Pradesh. This possible connection strengthens the belief that the Warli have been inhabiting their current home for at least 2,300 years, with their artistic expression, Warli painting, becoming a defining cultural element.
In 2014, Warli paintings became Geographical Indications (GI), recognising them as the intellectual heritage of the Warli community. Today Warli art is ubiquitous.
( incredibleindia.gov )
