page_title: Wai, Maharashtra
section_title: Culture
hierarchical_section_title: Wai, Maharashtra / Culture
caption_attribution_description: English: mahaganapati1
context_page_description: Wai is a town in Sātārā District, in Mahārāshtra state, India.
  Located on the Krishna River, Wai was a town of some prominence in the days of the Peshwas. Two important Maratha Brahmin from ruling families had their origins here: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Gopikabai, wife of Nanasaheb Peshwa. Peshwas, a word derived from the Persian word for "foremost leader," were similar to a modern prime minister, and served Maharashatra state from 1713 to 1857.
  Wai has long been a cultural center. Locally prominent families such as the Raste, Ranade, Phadnavis etc. built several architecturally significant temples in Wai. A few kilometers from Wai on a hill 4,650 feet above sea level is the temple of Mandhradevi Kalubai, which is more than 400 years old. In more recent times, some 300 Bollywood and Marathi movies have been filmed in Wai.
context_section_description: The prominent Pradnya Path Shala (Devanagari: प्राज्ञ पाठशाला) educational institution is based in Wai.
  Wai is well known for Tarkateertha Lakshman Shastri Joshi, founder of Marāthi Vishwakosh (Devanagari: विश्वकोश).
  Krishnabai Utsav is the main festival in Wai. When warlord Afzal Khan set out from Wai to attempt to defeat Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shendye Shāstri of Wai prayed to the Krishna River for Shivaji's victory, sparking the Krishnabai festival. It is celebrated on each ghat for four to eight days. The festival is also celebrated in the nearby town of Karad.
  A 105-year-old Govardhan Sanstha (Goshala) celebrates Shri Krishna Janma Ashtami (Gokul Ashtami). The two-day Jatra festival attracts people from all over Maharashtra. The annual fairs, Yatras/Jatras, began with the Yatra of Mahalaxmi of Bhuinj, Jamb, Kikli and Belmachi on Dassraa. Yatras in the Wai taluka include Mandhardevi, Bagad of Bavdhan, Kavathe, Kalambhe and Surur.
  A number of movies have been filmed in Wai, including Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain,  Gangaajal, Omkara (2006 film), Dabangg 1, Dabangg 2, Swades, Ishqiya, Singham, Deool, Bol Bachchan, Zila Ghaziabad, Gulaab Gang, R Rajkumar, and Chennai Express, Bajirao Mastani. Others are Ardhasatya, 22 June 1897, Omkara (2006 film), Mrutyudand, Swades, Gangaajal, Dabangg and Gulaab Gang Sargam  were shot in Wai and the nearby villages of Dhom, Bavdhan, Chikhli, Menvali, Bhuinj, Pachwad and the surroundings of Dhom, Balakwadi, Jambhali and Nagewadi dams.
caption: Mahaganapati temple
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