2. What is the culture of
Maharashtra?
โข Maharashtra is the third largest
state of India in terms of land area
and second largest in terms of
population in India.
โข Around 80% of Maharashtrians are
Hindu, and there are significant
Muslim, Christian and Buddhist
minorities.
โข 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
3. FOOD FOR FESTIVAL
โข Soonth panak and sprouted chana
usal are prepared for Gudi Padwa,
puran poli for Holi, coconut potali in
Haritalika, karanji and chakli for
Ganesh Chaturthi, shankarpali,
badam halwa, chakli and karanji
during Diwali, shengdana chikki in
Makar Sakranti.
4. Food for
Weddings
โข Vegetarian food prepared without
garlic and onion is served on
banana leafs on marriages. The
menu includes vegetables in
coconut gravy, green mango
chutney, cucumber and peanut
salad, rice, puris, golden dal called
varan and a sweet dish like jalebi,
creamy basundi or saffron-scented
shrikhand. Mattha or coriander-
flavoured, salted buttermilk
complements the meal, and sums
up with a sweet paan called vida.
5. Urban lunch and
dinner menus
โข Boiled rice
โข Salad or koshimbir based on onions, tomatoes or cucumber
โข Papad or related snacks such as sandge, kurdaya and sabudana
papdya
โข Dry or fresh chutney, mango or lemon pickles
โข Aamti or varan soup based on toor dal, other dals or kadhi.
When usal is part of the menu, the aamti may be omitted.
โข Vegetables with gravy based on seasonal availability such as
egg plants, okra, potatoes, or cauliflower
โข Dry leafy vegetables such as spinach
โข Usal based on sprouted or unsprouted whole legumes
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.
6. Rural lunch and dinner menus
A TYPICAL MAHARASHTRIAN MEAL CONSISTS OF BHAAJI,
BHAKARI, RAW ONION AND PICKLE. IN THE KONKAN COASTAL
AREA A TYPICAL MEAL CONSISTS OF BOILED RICE, BHAKRI
MADE OF RICE OR NACHANI FLOUR AND A VEGETABLE.
IN OTHER AREAS OF MAHARASHTRA SUCH AS DESH,
KHANDESH, MARATHWADA AND VIDARBHA, THE
TRADITIONAL STAPLE WAS BHAKRI WITH A COMBINATION OF
DAL, AND VEGETABLES. THE BHAKRI IS INCREASINGLY
REPLACED BY WHEAT-BASED CHAPATIS.
7. Music
โข Lavani, Powada and Tamasha are 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.
โข It is generally sang by women while grinding grains on jaata. Suvasinis sing
folks songs at the halad ceremonies in a marriage. Palane/Angai geet is a
lullaby in Maharashtra.
โข Bhajan, Bharud, Gondhal, Kirtan, Lalita, Abhangas and Tumbadi singing are the
other forms of community entertainment based on folk songs found in
Maharashtra.
โข Vasudev is a folk artist who walks from house to house in the morning while
singing different abhangas in 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.
8. Dance
โข Lavani, a traditional dance of Maharashtra
โข The folk music and dances of Maharashtra are Koli,
Powada, Banjara Holi and Lavani dance. Lavani
dance form showcases many topics such as
romance, tragedy, politics, society, etc.
โข The word 'Lavani' derived from Marathi word
Lavanya meaning beautiful and beauty. Powada
dance form shows achievements of Shivaji. Koli
dance originated from Fishermen community of
Maharashtra.
โข Other dances such as lavani, tamasha, dindi and
kala, dhangari gaja, lezim, and different folk dances
are also performed.
