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 in increased local ownership. Tourism here is a great leveler and culture the sap of sustenance.
Within an hour distance from Jaisalmer airport there are villages like Barna & Janra, home of Manganiyar musicians and located very near to popular desert camp Khuri. The first village festival celebrating traditional art & culture will be held at Barna on 29-30 Dec and at Janra on 8-10 Jan. Villages like Kanoi located next … Continue reading “Jaisalmer desert in Rajasthan”
View DetailsThe Phalodi region of Jodhpur desert is a hotspot for Langa musicians. Chopasani is home of Kalbelia dancers, the dance which is inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Jodhpur also is famous for Durrie making at a village called Salawas, which is within 30 minutes driving distance. The … Continue reading “Jodhpur desert in Rajasthan”
View DetailsPugal in Bikaner is the home of Mir musicians, they travelled to India with Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. One can see Usta Art or Miniature painting at Bikaner city area itself. People interested in seeing weaving village may visit Napasar, located within 30 minutes driving distance from Bikaner. Tourists may ask us at toureast@banglanatak.com for details.
View DetailsBarmer is the goldmine for desert village based folk music and handicraft tourism. From Jodhpur, one can reach Patodi to see Jutti and Kasidakari work and Barnawa Jageer (located next door) for Langa music. From Jaisalmer, one can come to Sheo, to see a number of fantastic desert villages with Manganiyar musicians. Kiradu Temple or … Continue reading “Barmer desert in Rajasthan”
View DetailsA simple green village by the river Bhagirathi in the border of Bardhaman and Nadia is the home of about 60 handicraft artists families working on Wooden Doll making. Natungram located at Kalna block in Purba Bardhaman has a beautiful Folk Resource centre developed by West Bengal Khadi and is maintained by the local artists … Continue reading “Natungram”
View DetailsKnowing yourself is the essence of Baul Fakiri music, which reflects the joy, love and longing for mystical union with the Divine. Living the life of an esoteric, denouncing the material world, they urge people to rise above the divides created by caste, creed and religion to find peace. In 2004-05, we started working with … Continue reading “Bannabagram”
View DetailsWooden Mask makers village – Kushmandi, Dhokra weaving artists; villages around – Mahisbathan, Kulator, Dehat, Pottery village – Kunoor, Basketry village – Daspara, Bamboo Mask – Baishyapara will give you a unique cultural tourism experience. They also hold the Geographical Indication (GI) for the Wooden Mask art form. Explore the village, interact with artists, participate … Continue reading “Kushmandi”
View DetailsThe “patuas” of Pingla hold the Geographical Indication (GI) for Patachitra. Learn about Patachitra tradition, join the workshop to learn about the process of making natural colours or listen to the Patachitra songs ‘Pater Gaan’ to know the stories of the paintings. Enjoy the Community Museum of the village. Pingla also has a beautiful Chau … Continue reading “Pingla”
View DetailsTepantar is a theatre village with a four-acre campus. In the last few years, it has evolved as a dynamic cultural hub. Lush greenery, chirping of birds, buzzing of bees make your stay really nice. Within 1/2 hour(s) driving distance, one can visit Joydeb Kenduli to interact with the Baul musicians, Nanoor to meet Kantha … Continue reading “Tepantar”
View DetailsPurulia is a pied panorama of nature, people, culture and heritage. It is the land of the spectacular Chau dance inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010. Chau is a colorful, martial mask dance of eastern India. Nearly 180 families of Chau mask makers live in Charida … Continue reading “Charida”
View DetailsPurulia is a pied panorama of nature, people, culture and heritage. It is the land of the spectacular Chau dance inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010. Chau is a colorful, martial mask dance of eastern India. Nearly 3,000 artists pursue this vibrant performing folk art … Continue reading “Balarampur”
View DetailsSituated on 60 acres of land, Nimdih Gandhi Ashram is located at the foothills of the Dalma range of hills and offers a picturesque and enchanting view of the region. Nimdih offers simple stay arrangements with cottages, hash-huts and rooms, with provision of attached toilet for the cottages and common clean western style toilet for … Continue reading “Nimdih”
View DetailsSunderbans is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is renowned for its bio-diversity, unique landscape and the iconic mangrove forests. This landscape of the Sunderbans inspires the folk traditions of this land, such as Bonbibir Pala, a mythological play that revolves around the age-old conflict of man and animal. The mystic rivers of the Sunderbans … Continue reading “Sunderbans”
View DetailsWe 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.
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Bengal 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.
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In 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.
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The 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.
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Bhawaiya 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.
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Kantha 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.
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The 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.
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Dariyapur in Bardhaman district is a hub of Dokra craft and is home to some marvellous craftsmen.
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Families 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.
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Scroll 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.
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Charida 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.
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Gorbhanga 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.
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Panchmura 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.
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Villagers 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.
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Literally the far horizon, it is an open air theatre village - a confluence of local art forms, including those of the celebrated Bauls, the mystic minstrels of Bengal. Tepantar is fast emerging as the epicenter of a cultural resurgence – a journey of art in search of its roots.
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A 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.
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Dedicated families are helping revive their legacy of wooden doll making. Curved from a single block of wood and painted in bright colours of the Earth, their trademark creation, the Owl, being synonymous with the traditional art of Bengal.
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Apart from its natural beauty, Thanem has two unique hidden treasures; its traditional bamboo craft and folk dance called Dhalo.
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The 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.
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Gulem 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.
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Avedem 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.
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Artfill 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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