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Maharashtra -
The great Land. As the name itself suggests, Maharashtra is diverse in its riches. It has been reflected through its, forts, caves, palaces known for its rich history, its Saints, philosophers, music, handicrafts and its festivals with all their colourful rituals and traditions, all of which amalgamate together to give a true reflection of Maharashtrian Culture. |
Religious diversity
Some of India's greatest movements, religious, reformist and ecumenial, were born here. Ranging from SriChakradhar and his Mahanubhavs, Sri Jnanadev, Sri Tukaram, and their Warkaris, Samartha Ramdas, Mahatma Phule, Lokmanya Tilak, Baba Amte, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and a host of philosophers, reformists, and writers have immensely enriched the life, |
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| Dance and Music
Maharashtra has been equally well known for its music. Its vibrant folk forms like lavnis, povadas, gondnals and bharuds are a true reflection of the society. Besides India's greatest treasure on classical music of medieval times the "Sangitratnakara" was written by Sharang Dev in the 13th century. Many of India's greatest stalwarts of music reside and perform here like Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, Lata Mangeshkar, Bal Gandharva, Kishori Amonkar etc. Maharashtra also has a flourishing theatre tradition. Two of the most well-known handicrafts of Maharashtra are Kolhapuri Chappals and the Paithani Sari; its silk bordered with opulent zari.
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Festivals
Maharashtra festivals, are a tribute to its rich culture and legacy. Ganesh Festival, Gokul Ashtami, Diwali, Holi, Dussehra, Padwa etc. provide a common platform for people from all walks of life to interact with one another. In all Maharashtra signifies culture and a modern cosmopolitan outlook. |
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Marathi Cuisine
Maharashtrian (or Marathi) cuisine is cuisine of the Marathi people, those from the state of Maharashtra in India. Maharashtrian cuisine covers a wide range from being extremely mild to very spicy dishes. Although gaining popularity in India, it remains a mystery to most westerners. Wheat, rice, jowar, vegetables, lentils and fruit form important components of Maharashtrian diet. Popular dishes include puran poli and aamras.
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The staple dishes of Maharashtrian cuisine are based on bread and rice:
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Poli or chapati - unleavened bread made of wheat flour, more common in urban areas.
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Bhakri - bread made of all kinds of flours, mainly joar and bajra, form part of daily food in rural areas.
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Rice - is eaten throughout Maharashtra and is a large part of the daily meal, although Maharashtrians are not totally dependent on rice alone. Normally meals contain some form of bread, some bhaji(vegetables) and some rice with dal.
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The bhaji is typically a vegetarian dish made from a vegetable, with some masala essentially consisting of onion, garlic and mustard. A particular variant of bhaji is the rassa. Vegetarians prepare rassa out of potatoes and or caulifower with tomatoes or fresh coconut kernel and plenty of water to produce a more fluid behaviour than bhaji. Dishes are usually cooked with groundnut oil. The one masala that gives Maharashtrian cuisine its authentic flavor is the soda masala or kalaa masala.
Non-vegetarian dishes are mainly popular with the predominant Maratha - warrior community and those really are very popular amongst a lot of people. They are normally chicken or mutton dishes. The taambda rassa (red curry and pandhra rassa(white curry) of Kolhapuri chicken and mutton dishes from the southern city of Kolhapur and the varhadi rassa or (varhadi chicken curry) from the Vidarbha region are especially well known throughout the Marathi speaking world. |
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