As a part of the celebration of AzadikaAmritMahotsav and Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Ltd (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India is organising the “AadiMahotsav”, a mega National Tribal Festival in DilliHaat, New Delhi from November 16-30, 2021.
In a media interaction today Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED informed that this year’s Aadi Mahotsav in 7 days has reached the sale of around Rs 3 crores with last Sunday creating a mark by crossing the sale value of Rs 60 lakhs as a single day revenue generated by the tribal artisans. He also informed that this is the biggest one-day sale made amongst 35 Aadi Mahotsavs hosted by TRIFED in the past 4 years.
He further highlighted that TRIFED is continuously looping in increasing number of tribal artisans and helping the tribal welfare schemes reach greater number of tribes. He also said that the Aadi Mahotsav has 14 newly empanalled tribal artisans from Ladakh selling apricot and pashmina products and North-East this year has over 40 groups participating in Aadi Mahotsav, bringing with them a large variety of traditional north-eastern tribal products.
The festival was inaugurated by Shri Sukhram Munda, grandson of BhagwanBirsa Munda at 6.30 pm on November 16, 2021. Shri Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs presided over the inaugural function
.With more than 200 stalls from across the country and about 1000 artisans and artists with their unique stories participating, the AadiMahotsav, an annual tribal festival organised by TRIFED is a way to draw the Adivasis into the mainstream. Showcasing traditional art and handicrafts and cultural heritage of the country, this festival connects the tribal artisans with larger markets and brings to focus the diversity and richness of the tribes of India.
Among major highlights of this year’s AadiMahotsav is the Tribes Nicobar Virgin Coconut Oil – a product coming from the remote indigenous communities of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.This is for the first time, such a product is launched at New Delhi through the efforts of TRIFED which is working towards fulfilling the dream of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in building a new and prosperous India by empowering the tribal communities
This year an exclusive pavilion for the sale and display of Van Dhan products has been put up, with a range of products from organic amla candies to bamboo cased copper bottles. Aadi Mahotsav has a total of 545 Van Dhan items being sold by the tribal suppliers through over 11 Van Dhan dedicated stalls.
This Aadi Mahotsav also brings GI tagged tribal products from across the nation, including organic products from North-East Farm Sale stall, selling Joha Rice, Assam Orthodox Tea, Mizo Bird Eye Chilli (ranks among top 10 hottest chilies in the world), Manipur Kachai Lemon Pickle and BhootJhalokia Pickle. Handicraft items Dhokra and Bidri as well as Handlooms like Chakhesang Shawl and Banarasi Silk among many other
It is for the first time that Aadi Mahotsav also features Nutra-beverage in 8 flavours of Gooseberry, Peach, Passion fruit, Kiwi, Grapes, Strawberry, Pear and plum.
Representing the basic ethos of tribal life, the fortnight-long festival currently on at DilliHaat, New Delhi, featuresthe exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery fom across 28 states of the country and will give a ringside view into their rich tribal cuisine.
Another highlight of this festival is the special celebrations and performances that have been slotted for several of the days.
These include the following – All India Services day when Secretaries, Joint Secretaries from various ministries will be visiting; Sports person’s day which saw the visit by some well-known sports personalities like Shri Anupam Gulati, Commentator, Shri A. B. Subbaiah, Former Indian Hockey Goal Keeper and Coach, Shri Jafar Iqbal, Former Hockey Player and Former Captain National Hockey Team. Besides these, there isthe Diplomats Day (where Ministry of External Affairs officials and all Ambassadors have been invited); As a part of the festival, a grand Tribal Handloom & handcrafted products Show curated by GraminVikasChetnaSamitihas been planned for 28th November; and also a classical performance byShri Rashid Khan has been slotted for 23rd November, 2021.
At the AadiMahotsav, visitors can sample the best that tribal India has to offer – from the famed Maheshwari sarees of Madhya Pradesh to the warm woollens from Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, from the various immunity boosting herbs and spices procured by the tribals of Tamil Nadu to the special honey and organic produces from North-eastern India; from the reputed Toda embroidery to the moga silk from Assam and the black pottery from Nagaland. The festival is a conglomeration of a mini-India all under one roof in one place.
With the emphasis of the PM on Vocal for local and building a self-reliant India, the festival aims to bring to fore the rich art-forms and traditions of this most disadvantaged section of Indian society and help them get access to larger markets.
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NB/SK
