Aadi Mahotsav-2025, the flagship initiative of the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, was inaugurated today by Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi. Organised from February 16 to 24, 2025, this vibrant festival celebrates India’s rich tribal heritage, culture, arts, crafts, cuisine, and commerce.

Aadi Mahotsav 2025 brings together:

• 600+ tribal artisans from 30+ States and Union Territories.
• 500 performing artists showcasing mesmerizing tribal dance forms.
• 25 tribal food stalls presenting indigenous cuisines from different regions.

The inaugural ceremony featured captivating performances by Tribal artists that included: Chhau Dance (Jharkhand), Kalbelia Dance (Rajasthan), Gaur Mariya Dance (Chhattisgarh), Siddhi Dhamal Dance (Gujarat), Angi Ger Dance (Rajasthan).

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu emphasized the significance of Aadi Mahotsav in empowering tribal artisans and entrepreneurs. She stated: “During the last 10 years, many effective steps have been taken for the overall development of the tribal society. The idea behind special attention to the development of tribal society is that only when the tribal society progresses, our country will also progress in the true sense.

The role of education is most important in the development of any society. It is a matter of happiness that about 1.25 lakh tribal children are being provided school education through more than 470 Eklavya model residential schools in the country.

Aadi Mahotsav is a major event to showcase and promote tribal heritage. Such festivals provide a great opportunity to entrepreneurs, craftsmen and artists of the tribal society to connect with the market”.

Advancing Tribal Welfare – PM-JANMAN & Dharti Aba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, transformative initiatives have been launched for the holistic development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs):

• PM-JANMAN Abhiyan (launched in 2023): ₹24,000 crore budget, ensuring doorstep delivery of essential services.
• Dharti Aba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (launched on October 2, 2024): ₹80,000 crore budget, focusing on:
  • Connecting 63,000 tribal villages to roads and mobile networks.
  • Providing permanent housing to tribal families.
  • Ensuring tribal citizens benefit from government welfare schemes.

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Minister, Shri Jual Oram, commended the festival, stating:

“Aadi Mahotsav is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of tribal communities. Visitors can experience live painting sessions and interact with artisans who have been meticulously selected.”

Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durga Das Uikey, highlighted the festival’s economic impact:

“Aadi Mahotsav strengthens the livelihoods of tribal artisans by providing access to national and international markets. We are committed to expanding these opportunities for our tribal entrepreneurs.”

Aadi Mahotsav 2025 – Key Highlights

• Display of Republic Day 2025 Best Tableau Award among all Ministries by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Live painting sessions by tribal artisans.
• Collaboration with 20 Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and 35 training institutes.
• Signing of 25+ MoUs with design institutes and corporate houses.
• State and international pavilions featuring unique tribal crafts.
• Brand integration on eight major e-commerce platforms.
• Delegations from Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
• MoU with IFCA for digital onboarding of tribal culinary items.
• MoU with NEST for capacity building in EMRS.
• MoU with HPMC for value addition to minor forest products like Mahua.

Dignitaries in Attendance

The event witnessed the presence of several esteemed dignitaries, including: Miss. Basuri Swaraj, MP – Delhi,Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs,Shri Ashish Chatterjee, MD, TRIFED, Senior officers, tribal leaders, artisans, and other distinguished guests.

Aadi Mahotsav – A Movement for Tribal Empowerment

Aadi Mahotsav is more than just a festival—it is a movement fostering economic self-reliance, cultural preservation, and social empowerment for India’s tribal communities. By bridging tradition with modernity, the event ensures that tribal India's invaluable contributions are recognized, respected, and celebrated globally.

With this vision, Hon’ble President extended her heartfelt congratulations to all citizens on the occasion of Aadi Mahotsav 2025 and Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh.

आदि महोत्सव जनजातीय विरासत को प्रस्तुत करने और उसे प्रोत्साहित करने का एक प्रमुख आयोजन है। ऐसे उत्सव, जनजातीय समाज के उद्यमियों, शिल्पकारों और कलाकारों को, market से जुड़ने का बहुत अच्छा अवसर प्रदान करते हैं। pic.twitter.com/LHna25zbj7

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 16, 2025

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the National Tribal Festival ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ in New Delhi. The President said that during the last 10 years, many effective steps have been taken for the overall development of the tribal society. The idea behind special attention to the… pic.twitter.com/zycAHPhG84

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 16, 2025

किसी भी समाज के विकास में शिक्षा की भूमिका सबसे अधिक महत्वपूर्ण होती है। यह प्रसन्नता की बात है कि देश में 470 से अधिक एकलव्य मॉडल आवासीय विद्यालयों के माध्यम से लगभग सवा लाख आदिवासी बच्चों को स्कूली शिक्षा दी जा रही है। pic.twitter.com/G4LnnZlBCF

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 16, 2025

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