The Warlis are tribal cultivators in the Thane district of north Maharashtra whose traditional art forms were in the past restricted to images of the mother goddess. However, since the 1960's the artists have been encouraged to paint in a much freer narrative style. Typically these paintings show multitudes of tiny human forms hunting, dancing or cultivating the land. They rely more on line than colour, usually being drawn with white rice paste. Ritualistic paintings were formerly done by Warli women but have now been taken over by the men who prefer to depict everyday scenes.

"The crop is ready for harvest and fields of rice paddy are swaying in the gentle breeze of autumn. The village folk are anxious to harvest their produce. The rivers are full, and stocked with fish. The hunters have returned with two plump wild boars and the women folk are busy preparing for the night's feast. Men and women join hands and hop along shoulder to shoulder in concentric circles matching the rhythm of the drum and the ghumroo. The people drink "Mahu Dharu", made from the fruit of the Mahua tree, which grows abundantly in this part of the Western Ghats."

This is how Anil Vangad a Warli artist visualises his village during the harvest season. Anil comes from Ghanjaad, a tiny village of only five hundred families in the Thane district of Maharashtra.

Despite never ending hardship and an everlasting dependence on the rains for the rice fields the Warli Folk are happy and content with what they have. This joy and cheerfulness is vividly illustrated in their art.

Although the murals are done on every wall in every house in the village very few know the skill. A Government training centre was set up for Warli artists in the village. Some did enroll and begin to learn the skills but the venture was closed down. Despite this, people like Anil are interested in it continuing. Many of the educated boys who work in Mumbai realise the significance of their art and are pursuing their parents to send the girls to school and allow them to learn the art, so that it may continue to tell stories about the community into the future.