Across tribal Central India—Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra—communities worship Bagh Dev, the Tiger God, as protector of forest and family. Legend holds that early forest-dwellers, fearing wild beasts, came to revere the tiger’s strength, forging a sacred pact: respect for its domain in exchange for protection of home and cattle. Gond, Bhil, and Korku tribes honor this bond by carving tiger idols at village borders and household shrines.

This Warli tribal artwork portrays life, community, and cultural traditions through a series of concentric geometric borders radiating from a central human figure. The layered patterns bring together dancers, musicians, animals, birds, tools, celestial elements, and ritual motifs inspired by the natural world. Each symbol contributes to a visual narrative of harmony and interconnectedness, celebrating the rhythms of everyday life, ancestral knowledge, and the enduring relationship between people, nature, and culture.

This artwork draws from the Gond belief that nature and all living beings exist in a deep, interconnected relationship. In traditional Gond art, deer antlers are often depicted transforming into tree branches, symbolizing the inseparable bond between animals and nature. Through this imagery, the work celebrates the harmony of the natural world and reflects the Gond community’s profound respect for its living environment. 

This artwork portrays a powerful yet peaceful moment as a tiger rests among the branches of a vibrant tree. The artwork reflects the deep interdependence between wildlife and forests, showing how even the strongest creatures rely on nature for shelter, survival, and life. Through the harmonious relationship between the tiger and its surroundings, the composition conveys themes of coexistence, balance, and the urgent need to protect natural habitats. 

Nature, Community and Cycles of Life celebrates the harmonious relationship between nature, community, and everyday life. At its center stands a magnificent Tree of Life, its expressive canopy sheltering birds and wildlife, while its roots emerge from concentric circles symbolizing the earth, origin, and continuity. Surrounding the tree, scenes of village life unfold through dancing, celebrations, daily work, and shared moments, reflecting unity, tradition, and coexistence.

Folklore tells that Mother Sita’s fallen locks transformed into serpents, giving rise to the legend of the Sita Lati snake — struck with a bamboo stick, it is said to multiply endlessly, one emerging after another. Rooted in myth and reverence, the tale weaves themes of purity, multiplication, and mystery, reflecting how rural belief systems entwine devotion with the natural world’s untamed, enigmatic creatures.