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. The Posro programme, attended by 122 people, focused on early conservation education and community-led habitat activities.
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. 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. Women, children, teachers, Panchayat representatives, artisans and traditional performers participated in the events. Children wearing elephant masks also delivered messages on elephant conservation. A traditional Dokra brass elephant model was also presented to the local school.