All About Festivals of Maharashtra

Being the second-largest populated state in India, Maharashtra has a diverse culture combining different communities and religious sects. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most famous festivals in Maharashtra. People from various communities celebrate each festival with the utmost respect and happiness. Each festival in Maharashtra illustrates the state’s culture and spirituality with a touch of historical significance. Every year, millions of people come from around the world to see the combination of each culture, respect between each religion, and the brotherhood among communities.

Most Important and Famous Festivals in Maharashtra

Maharashtra is one of the western coastal states situated in the central peninsular area of India. People here welcome others heartily and celebrate each celebration with great joy. The different types of festivals in Maharashtra are given below.

Ganesh Chaturthi

According to the mythological significance, this festival is focused on celebrating the birth of Shiva-Gauri Putra (the son of Shiva and Gauri), Ganesha, from August to September and on the fourth day of Bhadrapada. Ganesha is the lord of wisdom and knowledge. No auspicious work starts without worshipping Shri Ganesha. 

In the rural areas of Maharashtra, especially in the Konkan district, people start their day with a prayer of Sanskrit hymns for Shri Ganesha. Numerous stories in Hinduism and Vedic texts explore the victories and wisdom of this deity. The ladies of houses cook Puran Poli, lad, and different kinds of sweets and foods to celebrate the togetherness of the families during this festival. 

This is a ten-day-long festival that is not only organised in homes but also in mandaps by clubs and organisations. On the last day of the festivals, the worshippers bid farewell to the God in a long procession with music and dance, ending with the immersion of the idol in the sea.

Navratri and Dussehra or Vijayadashmi

All over India, along with the state of Maharashtra, it is one of the other famous festivals celebrated with great spiritual beliefs. People celebrate this festival on the tenth day of Navaratri. There are many mythological beliefs and folklore related to it. The festival is celebrated for the significance of victory over evil. On this day, people burn a doll of Ravana (the mythical antagonist of the epic Ramayan).

Diwali

Diwali is also one of the most famous festivals in Maharashtra. It is also called the festival of lights. On this day, Marathi people worship Devi Lakshmi (the deity of prosperity and wealth) to seek future prosperity and happiness as a boon. 

Traditionally, people light oil and clay lamps, burn crackers and design their houses with colourful patterns, which are called rangoli. This festival is celebrated from October to November and from Ashwin to Karthik according to the Hindu year calendar.

Janmashtami

On this day, Marathi people celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna (another mythical figure). People celebrate the Dahi handi ritual, a tradition and an imitation of the playful days of the childhood of Lord Krishna. This festival is celebrated at the end of August and during the Asthamihi of Shravan. This day is dedicated to the children, and people celebrate their innocence.

Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti

During Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti, people celebrate the birth of Ram and his biggest devotee, Hanuman. This day signifies the devotion and purity of the human heart. It is celebrated on the ninth day of Chaitra (according to the Hindu calendar), during the months of March and April.

Gudi Padwa or Chaitra Pratipada

Gudi Padwa is a celebration of the new year according to the Hindu calendar. On this auspicious day, Marathi people celebrate the new harvest of crops, symbolising a new beginning. This festival is celebrated during the months of March and April. On this day, people decorate a ‘gudi’ (a bamboo staff) with a coloured cloth and a cup to symbolise victory. 

Nag Panchami

In the celebrations of Nag Panchami, snakes are worshipped. During this festival, people make clay idols of cobras to which they offer milk and prasad. On this day, snake charmers roam around the places with snakes to gather offerings from people. During Nag Panchami, people visit Sangli to see many snake charmers performing their traits.

Narali Purnima

Being a coastal state, the sea is an important part of Marathi people’s lives. During Narali Purnima, people offer coconuts to the sea-god. This festival is celebrated on the full-moon day of the month of Shravan, which begins the new fishing season. It is an important festival for fishing communities. 

Pola

With its vast agricultural land, Maharashtra has a special emphasis on the harvest season. Remembering the old days when farming used to be mainly done with the help of bullocks, Pola is a celebration in honour of this very crucial animal. On this day, cattle are decorated and brought to a procession.

With the different types of festivals in Maharashtra, people enjoy them with a sense of togetherness, forgetting the barriers of castes and religions. Holi, Guru Purnima, Narali Purnima, Kojagari Purnima, Bhaubij, Raksha Bandhan, Eid, Makar Sankranti, and Shivratri are some of the other most important festivals of Maharashtra.

Conclusion

These festivals are a thread connecting people by their hearts. In our modern busy lives, these festivals bring little moments of joy. People celebrate them with families and relatives. Traditional foods like shrikhand, Puran Poli, sunthawada, Narali (special sweetened rice with the mixture of coconuts), and gopalkala (a sweet-savoury taste with the mix of pickle, yoghurt, and chilli) are made during these festivals. In the rural sides of Maharashtra, women do fasts and Vrata during these festivals.