YAVATMAL

Ghursali Dhemsa is a traditional ritual dance which is associated with the Gond community. It is performed annually during the two weeks leading up to Diwali and holds deep cultural, spiritual, and communal significance.

The dance is associated with the worship of Yatmasura Pen, a deity regarded by the Gonds as a remover of obstacles. Participants in the dance are known as ghursalis. Each dancer traditionally performs either in fulfillment of a vow or in gratitude for a wish believed to have been granted. Dancers apply body and face paint and wear peacock-feather headgear which represent their transformation into symbolic or divine figures during the ritual. The dance is accompanied by traditional instruments, including the shehnai, dhol, and nagada. Men and women participate together in rhythmic, circular movements.

Murti making is a traditional clay sculpting craft practiced in Yavatmal district. It is especially prominent in the region due to the widespread production of Durga murtis for the annual Durga Utsav. The craft is traditionally passed down through family lineages, with techniques passed down across generations.

Artisans in Yavatmal create murtis depicting various forms of the Devi Durga. Kali Mata representations constitute a specific category requiring distinct iconographic elements to distinguish them from her other forms.

Notable sculptors from Yavatmal include Dhananjay Tayade, Rakesh Prajapati, Umesh Badere, and Rahul Tayade, who are recognized for their contributions to the craft. Their work is commissioned not only within Yavatmal but also across the broader Vidarbha region, where their murtis are featured in festival displays. The festival and its associated craftsmanship are held in such high regard that an online archive of past murtis has been established, documenting the work of local artisans and their role in the celebrations.

Rahul Wadhwani is a jazz pianist originally from Yavatmal. He began his musical journey with a toy keyboard at age six and later pursued formal music education in India and Austria. Wadhwani relocated to Mumbai in 2016 and has since worked with several notable artists, including Sanjay Divecha and Mohini Dey. He is a member of Bombay Brass, led by Rhys Sebastian, and collaborates with Austrian trumpeter Manfred Weinberger.

Rajni Shirke is an artisan specializing in Kashidakari, a traditional hand embroidery technique. Over the past three decades, she has trained numerous individuals and promoted the craft nationally and internationally. In 2022, she received an award from India's textile minister, Piyush Goyal, in recognition of her contributions. Shirke has exhibited her work at venues such as Jehangir Art Gallery and participated in events like the Milan Expo and Dubai Expo.

Shyam Rathod is a photomicrography practitioner based in Yavatmal, known for documenting crystallization processes through microscopic imaging. His work focuses on capturing detailed visual representations of crystals, plant cells, and other microscopic structures, using techniques that highlight both artistic and scientific elements.

Rathod utilizes customized photographic equipment, having adapted a standard microscope into a polarized microscope to facilitate the imaging of crystalline forms. His images often depict fully grown crystals, with patterns and colors that allow for the visual identification of certain chemical properties. One of his notable works, titled Kojic Fireworks, features crystals formed from melted kojic acid, captured under polarized light.

It is noted in a Times of India article (2022) that, due to limited access to specialized tools related to his field in Yavatmal, Rathod developed alternative methods to pursue photomicrography, enabling him to continue his work despite resource constraints. His images have been recognized for illustrating microscopic details and contributing to the broader appreciation of natural structures through both artistic and scientific lenses.