Santali Katha

✅ Event Completed Successfully!
The Santali Katha Exposition was held from 30th April to 10th May 2026 with great success. Thank you to all participants, artists, scholars, and visitors who made this celebration of Santali art, culture, and knowledge systems memorable.

About Santali Katha

A landmark exposition celebrating Santali artistic traditions, indigenous knowledge systems, and living heritage — one of India's most vibrant tribal communities. Curated with national and international museums, this 11-day festival brought together scholars, artists, performers, and community voices.

📍 Venue

Kolkata Center for Creativity (KCC), 1st & 4th Floor,
777 Anandapur, E.M. Bypass, Adarsha Nagar, Kolkata - 700107

📅 Dates

30th April – 10th May 2026 (Closed 4th May due to Election Result) ✅ Completed

⏰ Timings

Exposition daily 10:00 AM onwards | Symposium sessions as per schedule

✨ Key Highlights

30th April | 5:30 PM

💃 Interface of Santal & Classical Dance

Mallika Sarabhai (Darpana Academy) – Lecture demonstration.

30th April | 7:00 PM

👗 Fashion Show "Galang Gabaan"

Lipsa Hembram showcases Santali saris.

1st May | 5:30 PM

🎵 Santali Songs of Soil & Toil

Ranjan Prassad Das & The Seagulls.

2nd May | 6:30 PM

🌾 Entrepreneurship & Tribal Ecosystem

Lecture by Sauravesar Sen.

3rd May | 6:30 PM

🎭 Tagore's Dakghar in Santali

Presented by Blossom Theatre, dir. Partho Gupta.

7th May | 11:00 AM

🤖 AI & Indigenous Knowledge Symposium

Synergizing Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Artificial Intelligence – leading panel.

10th May | 3:00 PM

💃 Tribal Musical Narrative & Dance

20 children from Ragabouro village + traditional musicians.

10th May | 6:00 PM

🎉 Santal Festive Dances

Baha, Sohrai, Dasai, Bhuang Naach by Blossom Theatre.

🌟 Special Attractions (As per Official Brochure)

30th April 5:30 PM: "Interface of Santal and Classical Dance Forms" – Mallika Sarabhai.
1st May 4:00 PM: Videography – Films on Santal culture by Anthropological Survey of India.
2nd May 2:30 PM: AnSI documentary screening – marriage of Sm. Manjushri Bhattacharya & Dr. Barka Soren.
2nd May 6:30 PM: "Entrepreneurship & Employment Opportunities with Tribal Ecosystem" – Sauravesar Sen.
3rd May 6:30 PM: Santali Drama "Dakghar (The Post Office)" by Rabindranath Tagore.
5th May 11:30 AM: "Adivasi Museum of Vidyasagar University: A Treasure House of Tribal Heritage" – Prof. Sumahan Bandyopadhyay.
5th May 3:30 PM: "The Transformation of the Toto tribe" – Sri Dipankar Ghosh.
5th May 5:00 PM: "Bangla Bhashay Santali Bhashar Provaab" – Prof. Suhrid Bhowmik in conversation with Dipankar Ghosh.
7th May 5:00 PM: "The Santal World and Rabindranath Tagore's Santiniketan" – Prof. Uma Dasgupta.
9th May: Illustrated talk on the Museum created by Bulu Imam – Adam Imam.
10th May 4:00 PM: "The Reciprocal Relation between the 1855 Hool and the Bengali Gentlefolk" – Subhomoy Roy.
30th April - 10th May The Obeetee Craft Studio, Kolkata presents an installation uniting Sabai craft and the Santhali Ol Chiki script, developed in collaboration with artisan communities of Purulia.

All sessions and events were successfully completed.

✅ All Sessions Completed!
The complete programme was successfully delivered as scheduled.

📆 Complete Programme (30 April – 10 May 2026) - ✅ Completed

📌 30th April (Thursday)

1st & 4th Floor: Smt. Rita Bhimani conducts visitors on a tour of demonstrations & exhibitions, meet artists, view reproductions of paintings and videos with voice recordings from the Volkerkundemuseum der Universitat Zurich (VMZ).

1st Floor: Museum of Santal Culture, Bishnubati, curated and explained by Sri Boro Baski. Collection of Santal artifacts explained by curator. Display of antique Santal jewellery (private collection). Bidisa Anthropology Museum, The Institute of Social Research and Applied Anthropology.

5:30 PM: Lecture demonstration on "Interface of Santal and Classical Dance Forms, at Shantiniketan" by Mallika Sarabhai, Director, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, Ahmedabad.

7:00 PM: Fashion show by Lipsa Hembram showcasing Santal saris "Galang Gabaan".

📌 1st May (Friday) – International Symposium

Convenors: Ruby Palchaudhuri, Alicja Kruseustern, Kumkum Bhattacharya and Chandana De

11:10 – 11:40 AM: Professor Peter Andersen, Faculty, Department of Religious Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

11:45 AM – 12:40 PM: Dr. Daniel Widmer and Dr. Patrick Ouvrard, General Practitioners of Medicine, Switzerland and France respectively.

12:45 – 1:20 PM: Professor Binoy Saren, Faculty, Institute of Agricultural Sciences.

1:30 – 2:30 PM: LUNCH BREAK

2:35 – 3:15 PM: Session III – Chairperson: Professor Peter Andersen.

2:30 – 3:10 PM: Mr. Kumar Rana, Director, Institute for Human Development, Eastern Regional Centre, Ranchi.

3:15 – 3:50 PM: Retired Professor Kumkum Bhattacharya – a short note on lyricism of the Santal language.

4:00 PM: Videography – Films on Santal culture – curation, explanation and courtesy: Anthropological Survey of India (1st floor).

4:30 – 4:45 PM: Rapporteur's presentation.

5:30 PM: Santali songs of Soil & Toil by Ranjan Prassad Das & The Seagulls (Ex Chief Architect, Government of West Bengal, Professor of Architecture, and Musician).

7:00 PM: Fashion show at the Auditorium – Presented by Lipsa Hembram, Mayrbnaj with 5 Santal models, showcasing draping of Santal saris.

Display of masks, musical instruments and other Santal artifacts continues on 1st & 4th floor.

📌 2nd May (Saturday)

10:30 AM: International Symposium at the Auditorium coordinated by Smt Kumkum Bhattacharya & Smt Chandana Dey. Keynote address by Ashoke Chatterjee.

Session I (Chairperson: Dr. Daniel Widmer):

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Professor Ashoke Chatterjee, Former Director, NID, Ahmedabad, will deliver the Special Lecture.

12:30 – 1:00 PM: Professor Onkar Prasad: Former Faculty, Department of Anthropology and Rural Studies, Visva-Bharati University.

1:10 – 1:40 PM: Dr. Indrani Bhattacharya, CEO, CINI, Food Culture of the Santals.

1:50 – 2:20 PM: Dr. Rahi Soren, Faculty, Department of Oceanography, Jadavpur University, Creation of a Santal Archive.

2:30 – 3:00 PM: Ms. Ipil Baski.

LUNCH BREAK

Session II (Chairperson: Dr. Patrick Ouvrard):

2:30 – 3:30 PM: Screening of the AnSI documentary on the marriage of Sm. Manjushri Bhattacharya and Dr. Barka Soren and presentation by Manjushri Soren.

3:30 – 3:50 PM: Ms. Kushni Soren: Experience of Mainstreaming.

3:55 – 4:10 PM: Ms. Padma and Ms. Ruby Tudu.

4:15 – 4:30 PM: Rapporteur's presentation.

6:30 PM: Lecture – Sauravesar Sen "Entrepreneurship & Employment Opportunities with Tribal Ecosystem and Value Chain in India".

Exposition, showcasing and demonstrating Santali arts and crafts and films, with training workshops for registered applicants, continues (1st & 4th floor).

📌 3rd May (Sunday)

10:30 AM: International Symposium at the Auditorium, coordinated by Smt. Kumkum Bhattacharya & Smt. Chandana Dey.

Session I (Chairperson: Dr. Patrick Ouvrard):

10:00 – 10:45 AM: Dr. Boro Baski, Santal Museum – Role and Impact.

10:50 – 11:20 AM: Ms. Ahana Majumdar, Santal textile tradition, a saga of displacement, loss and regaining the threads of identity.

11:25 AM – 1:15 PM: Santal textile and drape, a ramp walk.

1:15 – 1:30 PM: Rapporteur's presentation.

LUNCH BREAK

Session II (Chairperson: Ms. Manjushree Soren):

2:30 – 2:50 PM: Dr. Partha Gupta, Santal performance as a form.

2:50 – 3:00 PM: Vote of thanks: Ms. Chandana De.

3:15 – 3:30 PM: Rapporteur's presentation.

3:45 – 4:30 PM: Staging of Santal Play by Blossom Theatre.

6:30 PM: Santali Drama "Dakghar (The Post Office)" written by Rabindranath Tagore, presented by Partho Gupta, Director, Blossom Theatre, Dwaranda, Birbhum.

Exposition showcasing Santali arts, crafts and films continues (1st & 4th floor).

📌 4th May (Monday)

🔴 THERE IS NO PROGRAM – Gallery closed due to Election Result.

📌 5th May (Tuesday)

Exposition showcasing Santali arts, crafts and films continues (1st & 4th floor).

11:30 AM: Lecture along with slide presentation titled "Adivasi Museum of Vidyasagar University: A Treasure House of Tribal Heritage" by Professor Sumahan Bandyopadhyay.

Lunch break 2:30 PM. (*All speakers to be introduced by Dr. Kumal Chakraborty, retired Professor of History JNU*)

3:30 PM: Lecture by Sri Dipankar Ghosh "The Transformation of the Toto tribe in the context of space and time".

5:00 PM: Lecture at the Auditorium – Prof. Suhrid Bhowmik, in conversation with Sri Dipankar Ghosh on "Bangla Bhashay Santali Bhashar Provaab". Presentation Presided by Dr. Dukhia Murmu.

📌 6th May (Wednesday)

Auditorium not available till 4pm.

1st & 4th floor – Exposition showcasing and demonstrating Santali arts, crafts and films, with training workshops for registered applicants, continues.

📌 7th May (Thursday) – AI & INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYMPOSIUM

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Symposium coordinated by Prof. Shambhu Prasad Chakrabarty (University of Engineering and Technology), presided by Dr. Dukhia Murmu, Teacher-in-Charge, Department of Santali, Bhasha-Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan.

Session Title: Synergizing Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Artificial Intelligence: An Indian Perspective

11:00 – 11:15 AM: Inaugural Session – Welcome Address: Prof. Dr. Rajiv Ganguly; Opening Remarks by Chair: Prof. Dr. Shambhu Prasad Chakraborty; Introduction to the Theme: Prof. Dr. Ayanita Banerjee.

11:30 – 11:45 AM: Keynote Address I (confirmed)

11:50 AM – 12:05 PM: Keynote Address II – Prof. Sayantan Dasgupta (Confirmed), Department of Comparative Literature, Jadavpur University.

12:10 – 12:50 PM: Panel Discussion – "Bridging Tradition and Technology: Reimagining Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" with Prof. Mrinmoy Pramanik (JNU), Prof. Saswati Haldar (JU), Prof. Mainak Ghosh (JU Architecture), Dr. Samrat Sengupta (Sidho-Kano-Birsha).

12:50 – 1:00 PM: Valedictory Session – Prof. Ria Roy Chowdhury.

5:00 PM: Lecture at the Auditorium by Prof. Uma Dasgupta on "The Santal World and Rabindranath Tagore's Santiniketan".

6:00 PM: Music provided by Smt. Parbati Hembram and her group.

Exposition continues (1st & 4th floor).

📌 8th–9th May (Friday & Saturday)

8th May: Auditorium & 1st floor not available. Static display remains on 1st floor. 4th floor exposition, workshops, films continue.

9th May: Auditorium & 1st floor not available. Static display remains on 1st floor. 4th floor exposition continues. Adam Imam gives illustrated talk on the Museum created by Bulu Imam.

📌 10th May (Sunday) – GRAND FINALE & VALEDICTORY

Exposition continues (1st & 4th floor).

3:00 PM: Tribal Musical Narrative and Dance Performance by 20 children from the village Ragabouro. Tribal Poetry and Story Recitation. Team includes 4 traditional musicians, 6-7 dancers, 1-2 storytellers or poets and 2 visual artists.

4:00 PM: Lecture by Subhomoy Roy "The Reciprocal Relation between the 1855 'Hool' and the Bengali 'Gentlefolk': A Study".

6:00 PM: Santal Festive Dances – Baha, Sohrai, Dasai or Bhuang Naach, presented at the Auditorium by Sri Partho Gupta from Blossom Theatre.

7:00 PM: Valedictory. Presided, with comments, by Ms. Richa Agarwal and Ruby Palchaudhuri. Summary and way forward by Dr. Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty, Honorary Advisor, KCC and Ila Palchaudhuri Foundation.

🎨 Daily (1st & 4th floor, except 4th May): Exposition showcasing Santali arts, crafts, films, and training workshops for registered applicants. ✅ All completed successfully.

✅ All Exhibitions Completed!
The exhibitions and museum displays were successfully presented throughout the 11-day event.

🏛️ Partner Museums & Exhibitions

Over 10 days, four floors featured rare artifacts, interactive demonstrations, and curated museum collections.

Museum of Santal Culture, Bishnubati
Curated & explained by Sri Boro Baski (1st floor).

Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich (VMZ)
Reproductions of paintings & voice-recorded videos.

Bidisa Anthropology Museum
Institute of Social Research and Applied Anthropology.

Vidyasagar University Adivasi Museum
Treasure house of tribal heritage (special lecture on 5th May).

Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI)
Films on Santal culture & marriage documentary (2nd May).

Private Collection
Antique Santali jewellery (display on 1st floor).

🖼️ Artefacts & Demonstrations

Masks, musical instruments, everyday Santal artifacts with curator explanations.
Live demonstrations of Santali painting & craft techniques (4th floor workshops).
Digital archive corner: reproductions from European museums & local heritage.
Films on Santal culture, curated by Anthropological Survey of India – daily screening on 1st floor.

🎨 Training Workshops (Registered Applicants)

Hands-on sessions on Santali art, textile traditions, and craft documentation – 1st & 4th floor throughout the exposition (10 AM – 4 PM). Contact coordination desk for registration.

All workshops were successfully conducted.

📸 Event Gallery

Relive the moments from Santali Katha Exposition. Browse through photos and videos from the 11-day cultural extravaganza that was successfully completed on 10th May 2026.

🎬 Video Highlights

Watch Dakghar (The Post Office) by Rabindranath Thakur – Santali Translation.

🎭 Dakghar (The Post Office), written by Rabindranath Thakur, is one of his most celebrated plays - Santali Katha 2026

Santali Translation (ᱚᱞ ᱪᱤᱠᱤ / Ol Chiki) ᱥᱤᱨᱚᱱᱟᱢ ᱫᱟᱠᱜᱷᱟᱨ (Dakghar) – ᱨᱚᱵᱤᱱᱫᱨᱚᱱᱟᱛ ᱴᱷᱟᱠᱩᱨ ᱚᱞ ᱛᱮ ᱚᱱᱚᱞ ᱱᱟᱴᱚᱠ ᱵᱤᱵᱨᱚᱱ ᱫᱟᱠᱜᱷᱟᱨ ᱨᱚᱵᱤᱱᱫᱨᱚᱱᱟᱛ ᱴᱷᱟᱠᱩᱨ ᱚᱞ ᱛᱮ ᱚᱱᱚᱞ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱢᱟᱨᱟᱝ ᱱᱟᱴᱚᱠ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ। ᱱᱚᱣᱟ ᱱᱟᱴᱚᱠᱨᱮ ᱟᱢᱟᱞ ᱧᱩᱛᱩᱢ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱦᱟᱯᱟᱱ ᱠᱚᱣᱟᱜ ᱡᱤᱵᱚᱱ ᱚᱞᱚᱠᱟ ᱦᱚᱭᱚᱜᱼᱟ, ᱚᱠᱚᱭ ᱥᱟᱠᱟᱢ ᱨᱚᱜ ᱠᱚᱨᱮ ᱚᱲᱟᱜ ᱵᱷᱤᱛᱨᱤᱨᱮ ᱛᱟᱦᱮᱱ ᱛᱮ ᱫᱚ ᱵᱟᱦᱨᱮ ᱫᱤᱥᱟᱢ ᱧᱮᱞ ᱟᱨ ᱫᱟᱲᱮ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱥᱟᱯᱱᱟ ᱧᱮᱞᱮᱫᱼᱟ। ᱟᱥᱟ, ᱥᱟᱫᱷᱤᱱᱛᱟ, ᱠᱟᱹᱞᱯᱚᱱᱤᱠ ᱪᱤᱱᱛᱟ ᱟᱨ ᱢᱟᱱᱣᱟ ᱟᱛᱢᱟᱨ ᱵᱟᱨᱛᱟ ᱱᱚᱣᱟ ᱱᱟᱴᱚᱠᱨᱮ ᱥᱩᱱᱩᱢ ᱛᱮ ᱮᱢ ᱟᱠᱟᱱᱟ।

30th April 2026 ✅ Completed

💃 Santal Festive Dances

This Santali song and dance performance celebrates the vibrant traditions, music, and cultural identity of the Santal community. Featuring energetic folk songs, rhythmic drumming, and expressive dance, the performance reflects themes of nature, festivals, harmony, and community life. The colorful traditional attire and lively movements embody the enduring spirit of Santali heritage, passed down through generations.

10th May 2026 ✅ Completed

🤖 Sarna Chittrakar Songs & Live Scroll Painting Demonstration

Experience the mesmerizing tradition of Sarnachittrakar (Scroll Painter) storytelling, where captivating folk songs blend seamlessly with the creation of vibrant hand-painted scrolls. This unique art form has been preserved for generations, using music, storytelling, and visual art to narrate stories of nature, culture, folklore, and community life.e

7th May 2026 ✅ Completed

👗 Sarna Chittrakar Songs & Live Scroll Painting Demonstration

This special demonstration was presented during Santali Katha – Santali Art, Culture, and Knowledge Systems, bringing visitors closer to the rich artistic heritage of the Santali community. As the artist unfolded each painted scroll, traditional songs breathed life into every scene, creating an immersive cultural experience that connected audiences with indigenous knowledge and storytelling traditions.

30th April 2026 ✅ Completed

🎭 Santali Song and Dance: A Celebration of Culture and Community| BharatSutras Digital Partner

The Santali song and dance performance is a vibrant expression of the rich cultural heritage of the Santal community. Accompanied by the rhythmic beats of traditional drums such as the Tumdak and Tamak, performers dressed in colorful traditional attire present graceful dances that celebrate nature, harvest, festivals, and the spirit of togetherness. Through music, rhythm, and movement, Santali folk traditions preserve ancestral stories and strengthen community bonds, showcasing the beauty and resilience of one of India's oldest Indigenous cultures.

3rd May 2026 ✅ Completed

🎵 Santali Song and Dance: A Celebration of Culture and Community

1st May 2026 ✅ Completed

🎵 Sarna Chitrakar: Preserving Indigenous Stories Through Traditional Scroll Art

This video highlights the rich artistic tradition of Sarna Chitrakar, showcasing the creation and presentation of vibrant scroll paintings that depict indigenous culture, folklore, nature, and community life. The artwork reflects the deep spiritual and cultural heritage of tribal communities, with each painting telling stories passed down through generations. Through live demonstrations and discussions, the event celebrates the skill of traditional Chitrakar artists while emphasizing the importance of preserving this unique folk art for future generations. It serves as a meaningful platform to honor indigenous creativity, cultural identity, and the enduring legacy of Sarna artistic traditions.

1st May 2026 ✅ Completed

🎵 Celebrating the Tradition of Indigenous Folk Art

This video showcases the artistry, a skilled folk artist demonstrating the intricate techniques of traditional tribal painting. Seated among an array of beautifully handcrafted artworks, she creates detailed motifs inspired by nature, animals, community life, and indigenous cultural traditions. The video offers a glimpse into the patience, craftsmanship, and storytelling embedded in every piece, while highlighting the importance of preserving and promoting India's rich tribal art heritage. Through this live demonstration, viewers gain a deeper appreciation of the artistic legacy passed down through generations and the vital role of women artists in sustaining these cultural traditions.

1st May 2026 ✅ Completed