My fascination for Indian folk-art continues through this. Warli, an ancient art form, is an example of how three shapes – square, circle and triangle can be used to teach us about life. The Warli people of Maharashtra draw scenes depicting their everyday life using just these basic shapes. Although it may seem simple on the face of it, the symbology behind these shapes can be quite revealing. The circle is derived from the sun and the moon while the triangle from the mountains and trees. The square or the chaukat is derived from the land or the sacred space that encloses everything. Interestingly, the human and animal figures are made up of two triangles – the upward pointing triangle symbolizing male and the downward, female. These are joined at the hip, indicating the presence of male and female energies in a human being and the precarious equilibrium that keeps the universe in balance. The Warli people tell their everyday stories through their art, which is a fine example of simple beauty. Everytime I look at a piece of folk art, I cannot help but feel astonished at the highly evolved, progressive thinking the ancients practiced. So, when I saw a mannequin wearing a Warli print saree in silk cotton, I just had to have it. It remained in my cupboard, unworn, no fall, no peco, no blouse! Until yesterday.

Yesterday, was the start of an exciting new workshop I’m doing this month called the Tribe of Tellers, in which we coach kids to take up the mantle of a storyteller so they may continue the tradition in the years to come. Since storytelling finds its origins in the ancient tribes of the world, how could I not wear this saree with its Warli print to add to the mood of the day! So hurriedly, the previous evening, I cut out the blouse bit, hemmed the edges, managed to find a matching blouse and made it wearable. No fall, though! My colleague Nisha, got us special necklaces with a talisman, which we put on and gave to the kids to welcome them into the tribe!

It was a day of connecting the past, present and future through the stories we tell.