Kolkata: Bengal’s traditional art, indigenous performances and community participation became the medium for spreading the message of elephant conservation and human-elephant coexistence as the first three programmes of Wildlife Trust of India’s Gaj Utsav 2026 reached more than 426 people across Jhargram and Purulia.Organised in collaboration with Durgapur Wildlife Information and Nature Guide Society (WINGS), the three-day outreach programme was held at Kankrajhore and Posro in Jhargram on September 24 and 25, followed by Charida in Purulia on September 26. Women, children, teachers, Panchayat representatives, artisans and traditional performers participated in the events.At Kankrajhore, 104 people took part in activities that included a Mundari dance centred on elephant conservation, a recitation by a local Panchayat member and the “Maitri Wall”, where women and children created conservation-themed artwork. Children wearing elephant masks also delivered messages on elephant conservation.The Posro programme, attended by 122 people, focused on early conservation education and community-led habitat activities. Forty primary school students participated in a “Colour the Elephants” activity, while women prepared more than 75 seed balls using seeds from nine locally occurring plant species. A traditional Dokra brass elephant model was also presented to the local school. The programme featured Gajo Bandana and a traditional Santhal dance.The third programme at Charida drew more than 200 participants and used the village’s renowned Mukhos mask-making tradition and Chhau dance to communicate the conservation message. A local mask maker was interviewed on the role of traditional craftsmanship in conservation, while a Chhau performance featuring a moving elephant model portrayed the challenges of sharing landscapes with wildlife.Across the three programmes, Dokra, terracotta, Mukhos, Chhau and traditional Mundari and Santhal dances were highlighted as cultural avenues for conservation outreach. The report said the initiative demonstrated how local communities could participate not merely as audiences but as artists, educators and contributors to conservation.
