Fri, November 13, 2026
Jamshedpur, November 13, 2026: Jamshedpur is preparing to host the 13th edition of Samvaad, a five-day national tribal conclave scheduled from November 15 to 19 at Gopal Maidan. The event will bring together at least 2,500 participants representing 353 tribal communities from 26 states and Union Territories across India.
The gathering will coincide with the 26th anniversary of Jharkhand's statehood and the 151st birth anniversary of tribal icon Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda.
Since its launch in 2014, Samvaad has developed into a national platform where tribal communities can exchange knowledge, discuss development priorities and showcase their cultural traditions. Over the years, the initiative has reached more than 1.3 lakh people from 353 tribal communities.
Around 15 per cent of this year's participants will represent Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), while 55 per cent will be attending the conclave for the first time. Ahead of the main event, 21 regional Samvaads, workshops and residencies have been conducted across the country since April 2026, involving over 6,000 people.
The discussions during the five-day programme will cover tribal identity, traditional knowledge, education, language preservation, governance, representation and community aspirations. Alongside these discussions, visitors will get opportunities to experience tribal music, food, cinema, handicrafts and entrepreneurship.
Food and culinary traditions will be an important attraction at Samvaad 2026. Around 70 home chefs from 22 tribal communities across 14 states and one Union Territory will present their traditional dishes through curated dining experiences, cooking demonstrations and food stalls.
The initiative has already helped establish 13 successful food enterprises, with another 12 ventures in the emerging stage. The programme has been developed in partnership with The Indian Hotels Company Limited (Taj Group).
The musical segment, titled 'Rhythms of the Earth', will feature 43 artists from 14 tribes representing eight states and Union Territories.
The artists will collaborate to create seven original Samvaad Singles, drawing inspiration from the musical traditions of the Oraon, Munda, Rabha, Bodo, Lepcha, Santhal and Ho communities.
The Samvaad Fellowship has received 492 applications from 99 tribes across 26 states and two Union Territories this year.
A total of 39 fellows from 15 states and two Union Territories will participate in the programme and present their ideas. Seven former fellowship awardees, who have completed their projects, will also launch their books.
So far, the fellowship has supported 64 fellows and facilitated 79 knowledge and cultural outputs. These include 34 books, 11 audio-visual documentaries, 32 audio songs, a heritage museum dedicated to the Poumai Naga tribe of Manipur and a heritage café in Ladakh showcasing Balti cuisine.
Traditional craftsmanship will also receive significant attention at the conclave. A total of 142 artisans from 34 tribes across 16 states and Union Territories will exhibit their products through 68 stalls.
The organisers expect the artisans to generate business worth approximately ?1.5 crore during the event. At the previous edition in 2025, participating artisans recorded sales worth ?1.06 crore.
The 'Samvaad Ke Sath' initiative will bring together 60 filmmakers, academics, practitioners and community representatives.
A total of 25 shortlisted films will be screened during the event. These selections have been made from 63 entries representing 11 tribes across 12 states and Union Territories.
The conclave will also provide a platform for indigenous healthcare knowledge. As many as 207 traditional tribal healers from 28 tribes across 15 states and Union Territories will participate.
They will share their healing methods and community-based healthcare practices, highlighting the continuing relevance of traditional knowledge systems.
The 'Akhra' platform will bring together 675 participants representing 166 tribes from 26 states and two Union Territories.
The discussions will focus on key subjects such as tribal identity, governance, education, preservation of indigenous languages and community development.
The cultural programme will feature performances by artists representing 18 tribes from 12 states. Additionally, 11 special musical bands representing 15 tribes across 12 states will participate, including three Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
Beyond its five-day schedule, Samvaad aims to strengthen connections between tribal communities and create opportunities for sharing experiences, preserving traditions and exchanging ideas.
The 2026 edition will place tribal communities at the centre of discussions on India's development, recognising them not only as custodians of indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage but also as important contributors to the country's future.
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