This Navratri, a festival which celebrates the awakening of Goddess Adishakti, revered in the glorious forms of ‘Navdurga’, Tata Power’s SaheliWorld.org joined in the recognition of the efforts of nine real life goddesses in Maharashtra.
A unique project conceived by art director Sumeet Patil and created by Shreerang Charitable Trust, this project focuses on women empowerment through the women ‘Goddesses’ living in rural Maharashtra, and their remarkable stories expressed through their work and achievements documented in the form of a series of nine short videos called ‘#StriPower’.
Speaking about the video series, Ms Shalini Singh, Chief-Corporate Communications & Sustainability, Tata Power said, “We, at Tata Power and SaheliWorld.org, are humbled at the work and efforts of these “goddesses”. In their own way, they are contributing to society without any inhibitions or societal taboos coming in their way. Each of these women have a talent and have found their role in society and society should be grateful to them. Tata Power’s ‘SaheliWorld’ is also made up of several multi-faceted “goddesses” (women entrepreneurs) from rural India who take us back to our roots with their rich handmade products – a vibrant expression of their traditional and cultural way of life.”
The short video series tells the story of the work and life of the following nine simple, but extremely motivated women:
- Although blind, Yogita Tambe, a music teacher, expresses her art through traditional music and sounds of nature. She is proficient in over 70 traditional musical instruments as well. Her blindness does not stop her from painting a mesmerising world with her music!
- Suvarna Waingankar is on a mission to conserve India’s forts and their heritage. A fearless woman, she climbs these forts, wearing the traditional ‘Navwari’ saree!
- Maya Sringare cultivates wild medicinal plants and vegetables in her field to conserve and promote their growth, which she also gives free to the ones in need in her village.
- Shraddha Kadam has dedicated her life to social welfare in her village even herself performing the last rites of people who have passed away without any kin!
- Ritika Palkar uses simple stones found in nature as her canvas and colours to depict the lives of rural women in India.
- Indrayani Gawde, lovingly known as ‘Nani’, this 84-year old, is a living representation of the Goddess Annapurna who earns her living by making bowls and plates from leaves and manages to feed the needy with her delicious cooking and a treasure trove of traditional recipes cherished by her.
- Aarti Anand Parab has dedicated her life to the conservation of ‘Fugadi’ a traditional festive sport form in Maharashtra.
- Tanushree Gangavane has successfully preserved the traditional heritage of her ‘Thakar’ community in the form of ‘Kalsutri’ and ‘Chitrakathi’. She uses her art and puppets not only to entertain but also for social awareness.
- Shreya Birje runs an old age home while maintaining the bond of love and lives with the same values of ‘Human service is service to God’.
This short video series has been directed by Sumeet Patil & Kishor Naik. The Marathi version of each story has been narrated by well-known actresses from the Marathi film industry like Deepti Bhagwat, Spruha Joshi, Tanvi Palav, Rituja Bagwe, Suruchi Adarkar, Padmashree Nayana Apte, Ashwini Kasar, Vimal Mhatre & Chinmayi Raghavan.
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