Culture of Maharashtra

Maharashtrais the third largest state of India in terms of land area and second largest in terms of population in India. It has a long history of Marathi saints ofVarakari religious movement, such asDnyaneshwar,Namdev,Chokhamela,EknathandTukaramwhich forms the one of bases of theculture of MaharashtraorMarathi culture.Maharashtrian culture had large influence over neighbouring regions under theMaratha Empire.
The state of Maharashtra spans multiple cultures which includes cultures related toHindus,Muslims,Buddhists,Sikhs,Christians, etc. LordGanesha,Maruti,Mahadeoin form ofShivlinga,Khandoba, Kalubai devi, and LordVitthalare some of the deities worshipped by Hindus of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra is divided into 5 regions:Konkan,Paschim Maharashtra,North Maharashtra,Marathwada,Vidarbha. Each has its own cultural identity in the form of different dialects ofMarathi language,folk songs, food, dress and ethnicity.
Around 80% of Maharashtrians are Hindu, and there are significantMuslim,ChristianandBuddhistminorities.The Maharashtrian culture consists of people from all a vast majority of religions. Due to it being huge areawise, many sub-regional cultures also exist in Maharashtra. The sub region ofVidarbha, was earlier a part ofCentral Provinces and Berar, hence it has that influence upon its culture.There are many temples inMaharashtra, some of which are thousands of years old.  These temples are constructed in a fusion of architectural styles borrowed from North and South India.  The temples also blend themes from Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cultures. The temple of LordVitthalatPandharpuris the most important temple for the Varkari sect. Other important religious places are theAshtavinayakatemples of LordGanesha, Bhimashankar which is one of the Jyotirling (12 important Lord Shiva temples).
NearAurangabadareUNESCO World Heritage Sitesand famous tourist attractions.Mughal architecture can be seen in the tomb of the wife ofAurangzebcalledBibi Ka Maqbaralocated at Aurangabad.Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and has humid climate throughout the year. The Gateway Of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Shaniwar Wada, Agakhan Palace and Deekshabhoomi are some of the historical monuments.
Maharashtra has a large number of hill, land and seaforts. Forts have played an important role in the history of Maharashtra since the time of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Some of the important forts in Maharashtra areShivneri,Raigad,Vijaydurg,Pratapgad,Sinhagad. The majority of the forts in Maharashtra are found along the coastal region of Konkan and the adjoining Sahyadri ranges.
Marathi Hindus revere many religious figures. Among the figures who originated in the region are Banka Mahar, Bhagu, Damajipanth,Kanhopatra, Karmamelam, Nirmala, Sadna, Sakhubai, Satyakam Jabali and Soyarabai.
According to the 2011 census,Hinduismwas the principal religion in the state at 79.83% of the total population, whileMuslimsconstituted 11.54% of the total population. Maharashtra has the India's largest Buddhist and Jain populations.Buddhismaccounted for 6% in Maharashtra's total population, with 6.53 million followers, which is 77% of allBuddhists in India.Jains,ChristiansandSikhsconstituted 1.2%, 1.0%, 0.2% of the population respectively.
The traditional caste hierarchy was headed by the Brahmin castes-theChitpavans,Karhades,Deshastha,Saraswatand theChandraseniya Kayastha Prabhus.In Mumbai during British rule, this included thePathare Prabhuand the Daivadnyna Brahmin communities.TheMarathasare 32% in WesternMaharashtraand theKunbiswere 7%, whereas theOther Backward Classpopulation (other than the Kunbi) was 27%. The other castes in the intermediate category include:GujjarsandRajputswho migrated centuries ago to Maharashtra from northern India - and settled in north Maharashtra. The population of theMaharswas 8%.
Traditional attire in Maharashtra  includes thedhoti, andphetafor men, while acholiand nine-yardsareelocally known as Navwri saree for women.Traditional attire  is becoming rarer with trousers and shirts for males and five yard saree orsalwar kameezfor females as the popular replacements. The traditional attire  is increasingly worn by Maharashtrians only during special occasions and  festivals.Marathi women also wear gajra or veni made by flowers on their sarees. Maharashtra also has rich Jewellery. Jewellery such as tanmani, bormal, Ranihar, kolhapuri saaj, thushi are worn on the neck; bajuband on area of hand above elbow; painjan wore on ankles; kudi, bugdi, vajra kutka, vel, Bali on ears; Marathi nath on nose; jodave on toes.
Maharashtrian cuisine has distinctive attributes, while sharing much with otherIndian cuisines. Traditionally, Maharashtrians have considered their food to be more austere than others. Maharashtrian cuisine includes mild and very spicy dishes.
A typical Maharashtrian meal consists of boiled rice, bhakri or poli along with varan, aamti and cooked lentils or a spiced vegetable.Bhakriis an integral part of Maharashtrian cuisine. Bhakri is a flame roasted bucolic bread made of flour of grains like pearl millet, rice, sorghum, amaranth and many others. Unlike other types of breads like chapatis which are flattened byRolling pin, Bhakri is flattened by hands.
Batata vada, Vada pav, Puran poli, Ukdiche modak, Sabudana khichdi, Pav-bhaji and Masala Bhat are some of the popular vegetarian dishes served throughout Maharashtra.
Non-vegetarian food consists of dishes mostly made of fish, chicken and mutton. Some of the popular non-vegetarian dishes include Sukka mutton,pandhrarassa, and tabmda rassa, which are originated fromKolhapurand saoji mutton which is popular invidarbha.
The cuisine of Maharashtra can be divided into two major sections the coastal and the interior. Kokan, the coastal region of Maharashtra has its own type of cuisine which is a combination of dishes influenced by Malvani, Goud Saraswat Brahmin and Goan cuisine
Distinctly Maharashtrian dishes includepitla,bhakri,bharleli vangi,ukdichemodak,aluchi patal bhaji,thalipeeth,pav bhaji,Puran Poli,shrikhand,basundi,vada pav,nashik chimisal pav, and Mumbaichaat.Puneri missal,nagpuri,sambar vada, andselucha chanaarealso considered to have originated from Maharashtra.
The Konkan, Varadi, Agri and khandeshi cuisines are popular with tourists. The specialty dishes of Maharashtran cuisines are often strong in pepper and spice with a twist of curry leaves, coconut and peanuts; well-known dishes includevada pav,misal pavand Mumbaichaatand puneri missal, selucha chana.
Typical breakfast items includemisal,pohe,upma,sheera,sabudana khichadiandthalipeeth. In some households leftover rice from the previous night is fried with onions, turmeric and mustard seeds for breakfast, makingphodnicha bhat. Typical Western breakfast items such as cereals, sliced bread and eggs, as well as South Indian items such asidlianddosaare also popular. Tea or coffee is served with breakfast.
A Maharashtrian vegetarian meal with a variety of items
Vegetarian lunch and dinner plates in urban areas carry a combination of:
Apart from bread, rice, and chutney, other items may be substituted. Families that eat meat, fish and poultry may combine vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, with rice and chapatis remaining the staples. Vegetable or non-vegetable items are essentially dips for the bread or for mixing with rice.
Traditional dinner items are arranged in a circular way. With salt placed at12 o'clock, pickles,koshimbirand condiments are placed anti-clockwise of the salt. Vegetable preparations are arranged in a clockwise fashion with a sequence of leafy greens curry, dry vegetables, sprouted been curry (usal) anddal. Rice is always on the periphery rather than in the center.
A typical Maharashtrian meal consists of bhaaji, bhakari, raw onion and pickle. In the Konkan coastal area a typical meal consists of  boiled rice,bhakrimade of rice or nachani flour and a vegetable.
In other areas of Maharashtra such asDesh,Khandesh,MarathwadaandVidarbha, the traditional staple wasbhakriwith a combination ofdal, and vegetables. Thebhakriis increasingly replaced by wheat-based chapatis.
Gudhi Padwais celebrated as the first day of theHinduyear. Gudhi is symbol-characterized by bamboo stick with a coloured silk cloth and garlanded with flowers and sweet a top.Ganesh Chaturthiis the most important festival in Maharashtra. It is celebrated for ten days with huge fun fare.
Banganga Festival,Bhaubeej,Elephanta Festival, Ellora Festival, Ganga Dashahara, Jivti Puja, Kalidas Festival, Kojagiri Pournima,Maharashtra Day,Naga Panchami,Narali Pournima,Pola,Shiv JayantiandVat Pournimaare some of the important festivals of Maharashtra.
InDiwali, kids build a replica of a fort, known locally as 'Killa', as a tribute to Great Maratha Kingchatrapati Shivajimaharaj . They are made of mud and rocks and decked with mustard shoots,mavalasor toy soldiers, toy cannons and miniature animals.
Sportsis an important part of thecultureofMaharashtra. Cricket,Kabaddi,hockey,kho kho,badminton, andtable tennisare popular sports in the state.The wrestling championship likeHind Kesari,Maharashtra Kesariare very popular in the rural regions of Maharashtra.Cricketis the most widely followed and played sport in the state.Maharashtra has produced many Iconic cricketers of India, such asSachin TendulkarandSunil Gavaskar.Horse riding,wrestling,fencing,archery, andshootingwere popular among the former rulers of Maharashtra.Maharashtra has various domestic-level, franchise-based leagues for hockey, chess, tennis, and badminton.Viti-dandu, and marbles were traditional children's games in the past in Maharashtra.These games have been revived and organized at the district level.The Sporting activities in Maharashtra are governed by the Commissioner of Sports and Youth Services, Pune.
Lavani,PowadaandTamashaare the most popular folk songs in Maharashtra. Bhaleri, a folk song is sung by the farmers in Maharashtra. Village women of Maharashtra sing a folk song called Owi describing husband's home. It is generally sung by women while grinding grains on jaata(जातं).Suvasinis sing folk songs at the halad ceremonies in a marriage. Palane/Angai geet is alullabyin Maharashtra.
Bhajan,Bharud,Gondhal,Kirtan, Lalita,Abhangasand Tumbadi singing are the other forms of community entertainment based on folk songs found in Maharashtra.
Vasudev is a folk artist who walks from house to house in the morning 
while singing differentAbhangasin the villages of Maharashtra and begs for food and gives blessings.  The tradition of Vasudeva in Marathi culture is estimated to be around one thousand-twelve hundred years old.
The folk music and dances of Maharashtra areKoli,Powada, Banjara Holi andLavanidance.Lavanidance form showcases many topics such as romance, tragedy, politics, society, etc. The word 'Lavani' derived from Marathi wordLavanyameaning beautiful and beauty.Powadadance form shows achievements ofShivaji.Kolidance originated fromFishermen communityof Maharashtra.Other dances such as lavani, tamasha, dindi and kala, dhangari gaja, lezim, and different folk dances are also performed.
It was starting in the middle of the 19th century, it flourished in the 1950s and 1960s, and includes forms likeSangeet Natak(Musical drama) andTamasha(folk dance). Today, it continues to have a marked presence in the State ofMaharashtrawith a loyal audience base, when most theatres in other parts of India have had a tough time facing the onslaught of cinema and television. Its repertoire ranges from humorous social plays,farces, historical plays, musical, to experimental plays and serious drama of the 1970s onwards, byVijay Tendulkar,P. L. Deshpande,Mahesh ElkunchwarandSatish Alekar, which have influenced theatre throughout India.In the post-independence era,Bengali theatre, and Marathi theatre have been at the forefront of innovations and significantdramaturgyinIndian theatre.
Marathi cinema is the oldest form of Indian cinema.The first Marathi movie released in India wasShree PundalikbyDadasaheb Torneon 18 May 1912 at Coronation Cinematograph, Mumbai.
Dadasaheb Phalkeis known as the first pioneer and founder of cinema in pre-Independence India. He brought the revolution of moving images to India with his first indigenously made filmRaja Harishchandrain 1913, which is considered byIFFIand NIFD as part of Marathi cinema as it used Marathi dialogues while shooting and had a fully Marathi crew.