Pune, known for its traditional and vibrant Ganeshotsav celebrations, witnessed a unique initiative this year with tribal artists from the Nashik district performing the traditional Pavri dance during the festival.
However, the performance by the 22-member troupe, led by Mukund Padvi, did not receive the anticipated response from the Pune audience, leaving the performers disheartened.
The Maharashtra Ganeshotsav festival, marked by grand processions, is typically accompanied by the loud beats of dhol-tasha drums and sometimes DJs.
This year, as part of efforts to showcase diverse cultural performances, tribal groups from across the state were invited to perform in Pune. The initiative to provide a platform for these artists during Ganeshotsav began in 2017, and this year, 120 tribal groups were invited. Despite these efforts, Padvi's Pavri dance troupe has only managed to secure bookings with two mandals.
"Our team has been booked for performances on the first two days of the Ganesh festival and the final immersion day. But we were hoping for more engagements.
We reached out to 35 mandals, but many of them said they didn’t have the budget for it. Some who were interested asked for a discount. All we ask is that the art and the artists be given the respect they deserve. Their talent should not be undervalued," said Mukund Padvi.
Padvi’s troupe hails from Surgana Taluka in Nashik, and their traditional dance performance was expected to bring something unique to the festivities. However, the low interest in tribal dance has led to concerns about the sustainability of such initiatives in future celebrations.
Rajat Raghatwan, the founder of Universal Tribes, an organization working to empower tribal communities, commented on the situation. In collaboration with Uday Jagtap, Vice President of the Adarsh Mitra Mandal, they are working with 11 mandals in the Dhanakwadi area to promote tribal art and culture during the festival.
Raghatwan shared, “In 2019, we were invited to perform in Pune, and this year we hope to continue the tradition of promoting tribal arts.”
Uday Jagtap emphasized that inviting tribal artists offers a more culturally enriching alternative to the noise-heavy DJ performances that have become common during the Ganesh festival.
“The excessive use of DJs is causing noise pollution, which is uncomfortable for many people. By inviting tribal artists, we not only help reduce noise pollution but also provide these artists with an opportunity to showcase their culture and earn a livelihood,” Jagtap said.
