Date: 14-Jan-2026
On January 14th, 2026, Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension (DLLE) in collaboration with  the NSS Unit  and IQAC of St. John College of Humanities and Sciences (Autonomous) organized a Warli Painting Workshop for registered DLLE students and 6 student exchange participants from St. Agnes College, Mangalore. The workshop was conducted by DLLE coordinator Ms. Vaishnavi Sankhe and NSS Coordinator Mr. Ameer Shaikh at Classroom No. 13, 5th Floor, SJCHS, with the objective of promoting cultural awareness and appreciation of Maharashtra’s indigenous tribal art forms. A total 47 participants attended this workshop.

The session was led by the resource person, Mr. Kiran Ghatal, a renowned Warli artist, who introduced students to the historical background, cultural significance, and symbolic storytelling style of Warli art, which originates from the Palghar region of Maharashtra.

The session commenced at 11:00 AM with an interactive introduction to Warli painting, followed by a live demonstration of traditional techniques using natural patterns and motifs. Students actively participated in the hands-on painting activity, creating their own Warli artworks under the step-by-step guidance of the resource person. The interactive nature of the session encouraged creativity, cultural exchange, and enthusiastic participation among students. The activity also strengthened cultural bonding between local students and exchange students while fostering respect for local heritage.

The workshop concluded at 1:00 pm with a display of students’ artworks, a brief interaction session, and a vote of thanks. The event successfully enhanced cultural awareness, promoted creative expression, and reinforced the role of DLLE in community-oriented and heritage-based learning initiatives.