About AFL - Art For Life (AFL) is an established community-led model for safeguarding ICH that has helped tradition bearers beget recognition and improved socio-economic condition. AFL has revitalized oral traditions, art and craft and has transformed marginalized villages into cultural destinations. The objectives of AFL are strengthening skill transmission, providing direct market linkage, and promoting cultural diversity. AFL creates new audiences and motivates rural artists to work for cultural sustainability. AFL promotes Village, Artist & Art together and has evolved the process of art and culture led rural development.
Culture is way of life. It shapes our beliefs, customs, arts, and unique identities. TourEast celebrates these subtle nuances through tours woven around culture. We promote cultural destinations of rural West Bengal offering an experience of heritage and traditions of rural life. It is done through active partnership with local communities, ensuring economic benefits and strengthening their community identity and pride. It results is increased local ownership. Tourism here is a great leveler and culture the sap of sustenance.
We offer unique amalgamation of diverse cultures and natural beauty of myriad hues.
The coastal area is known as the land of folk traditions like Bhatiyali songs, Jhumur songs & dance and Bonbibir Pala.
Read MoreBengal has a tradition of puppetry locally known as Putul Naach which is accompanied by songs. Muragacha, near Krishnanagar in Nadia, is the main string puppetry (Suto Putul, in Bengali) hub in Bengal.
Read MoreIn Bengal, the word Madur is a generic for floor mats. Mats are an integral part of Bengal’s lifestyle. Madur is a tradition and pride of Medinipur. Women of the households are involved in weaving this beautiful craft.
Read MoreThe northern part of West Bengal namely Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts are replete with traditional performing art forms which are brilliant in their content, presentation and musical richness.
Read MoreBhawaiya is a genre of folk song from northern part of West Bengal. Bhawaiya folk songs reflect the experiences of rural life, occupations, joys and sorrows of the people and express their harmony with nature.
Read MoreKantha for the Bengalis means embroidered quilt. It is a very familiar household item in Bengal. Kantha is unique as much for its traditional appeal as its contemporary allure. The craft is practised by rural women.
Read MoreThe clay dolls of Ghurni in Nadia are the integral part of Bengal's culture. These clay dolls are famous for their perfect detailing of forms, realistic features and marvellous expressions - making them a collector's item.
Read MoreFamilies of tribal metal-ware craftsmen are keeping alive the age-old tradition of Dokra, breathing life into their creations. The hallmark of this art form is its rustic beauty that depict unique folk motifs that have evolved over time, remaining virtually unchanged.
Read MoreScroll painters (Patachitra, Pata = scroll & Chitra = painting) tell tales of yore through their unique paintings and Earthy folk tunes (Pat-er gaan, Gaan = song). Their paintings are known for the use of bright hues – vibrant colours of the Earth in the way they occur in nature.
Read MoreCharida is home to the Chau Mask makers. Chau is an acrobatic martial art based dance form and is inscribed in UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The vibrant, colourful and elaborate masks convey the vigorous intent of the art form that portray animals or characters from the epics.
Read MoreGorbhanga is the village of the fabled Fakirs - makers of soulful, mellifluous music. It symbolises a quiet celebration of peace and free flowing music, practiced in the age old Baul tradition. From fields thriving in rich harvests to the eclectic chants of birds, Gorbhanga also has a rich treasure of nature’s bounty.
Read MorePanchmura the face of Indian handicrafts – the terracotta horse – comes home to roost. Steeped in tradition, the village has been molding clay to give vent to their creativity, following a calling that is passed from one generation to the next since time immemorial.
Read MoreVillagers are weaving a relentless battle to save the tradition of Sital Pati (Sital = cold, Pati = mat) made from murta plants, their art, already a globally acknowledged epitome of sustainability and craftsmanship apart from being a grassroots enabler.
Read MoreA hot bed of cultural heritage, both built and natural, where the legacy of wooden mask making continues to flourish, even as the womenfolk weave little ditty’s of art in their Dhokra mats known for their vivid colours and patterns that are exclusive to the region and the art form.
Read MoreApart from its natural beauty, Thanem has two unique hidden treasures; its traditional bamboo craft and folk dance called Dhalo.
Read MoreThe lush green fields and splendid view of the Western Ghats from St. Vincent Pallotti Chapel, makes Ibrampur a perfect day long getaway for the nature lovers. The place is known for its Bamboo handicraft and folk dances.
Read MoreGulem is famous for its rich repertoire of folk traditions and home to the largest number of folk artists in South Goa. The women of the village perform traditional Dhalo and Fugdi dances which are the celebration of Mother Nature and include songs about nature and local deities.
Read MoreAvedem is an interesting sneak peek into the traditional Goan Christian community lifestyle. The place is known for its cultural traditions such as the Christian Dhalo, Fugdi, Kalsi and Kannar Kher dances. Lavo Mandri, a traditional grass based mat weaving, is found in this place.
Read MoreArtfill seeks to bridge the gap between creation and appreciation by bringing the creators out of the confines of remoteness to their aficionados. The idea is to enable visitors to appreciate art as an experience by bring the process of Art making to the hospitality and other establishments through customized events and workshops.
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