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Banganga Festival
Banganga Festival is a
two-day long heritage music festival. The festival, which began in 1992,
has a fascinating legend behind it. |
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Bhaubeej
Bhaubeej is brother-sister occasion celebrated on
the fifth day of Deewali. Basundi poori or shrikhand poori are prepared
for this occasion. |
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Changdeo Fair
Changdeo in Maharashtra is
regarded to be a sacred place as of Purna and Tapi rivers. People flock
here once a year to take a divine dip.
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Cuisine
The cuisine of Maharashtra
is mainly influenced by the landscape, the people and the crops grown in
various regions. It is not only memorable for its subtle variety and
strong flavours, but also because of the legendary hospitality of
Maharashtrians. |
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Elephanta Festival
It is the site of the Elephanta Festival, the
tranquil abode of Lord Shiva, just one-and-a-half-hour's journey by
motor launch from Mumbai. Once known as Puri or Gharapuri, the island
was the proud capital of a powerful coastal kingdom.
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Ellora Festival
This festival, which is
organised by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in the
month of March showcases the best talents from across the country in the
field of classical music and dance. |
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Ganesh Chaturthi
Lord Ganesh is the most
respected God in Maharashtra, so as the Ganesh Chaturthi, most important
festival. The festival falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of
Bhadrapada (August - September). People buy Ganesh images to keep in
their houses as a divine guest for five to ten days.
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Ganesh Festival
Celebrated with a lot of
merrymaking and gaiety, the Ganesh Festival is enthusiastic to the Lord
Ganesha - the harbinger of good fortune and success. |
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Ganga Dashahara
River Ganga is known as
Tripathaga, or the 'Three Path River', as it is supposed that the river
flows in three worlds - in paradise it is called Mandakini, on earth the
Ganges (or Ganga), and in the nether region the Bhagirathi.
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Gokul Ashtami
The birth of Lord Krishna is
celebrated on Gokul Ashtami or Janmashtami. Most devotees fast till
midnight and when the birth of Lord Krishna is announced, they eat a
cheerful preparation of rice, butter, yogurt, puris and potatoes.
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Gudi Padava
Maharashtran New Year's Day
is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month Chaitra (March-April).
This festival is known as the Gudhi Padava in Maharshtra. This day marks
the start of the Hindu solar year.
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Jiviti Puja
Married Maharashtrian women complete Jivti Puja on
any one of the Fridays in the month of Shravan (July-August). Jivti is
an incarnation of Parvati, a goddess who is believed to protect
children. |
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Kala Ghoda
Festival
Kala Ghoda Festival is held
on Sundays between November and January months close to Jehangir Art
Gallery at Mumbai. Kala Ghoda Festival is a celebration of arts and
crafts that brings together the works of artistes in the fields of
music, dance, theatre and film.
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Kalidas Festival
The Kalidas Festival
celebrated in November every year at Nagpur is organized by MTDC. The
festival is celebrated over two exciting days and nights. Kalidas
festival commemorates one of the greatest poets of all times, 'Kalidasa'
(4th century AD). |
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Khuldabad Urs
Khulabad is a place located
at a distance of 5 km from the Ellora caves and 22 km from Aurangabad on
the Aurangabad-Ellora path. This place is also known as the 'valley of
saints' because of vast presence of Sufi saints.
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Kiran Utsav
Kiran Utsav is one of the
well-liked festivals in India. It is organized at Mahalaxmi Temple of
Kolhapur district in Maharashtra on 31st January, 1st February, and 9th,
10th, and 11th November every year. Goddess Laxmi is worshipped
throughout this festival. |
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Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela is the most
significant Hindu spiritual gathering in India that comes once every
three years, revolving among four major Hindu pilgrim centers of India -
Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik.
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Maharashtra Day
Maharashtra attained
statehood on 1st May 1960. So, the day is ordered as Maharashtra Day in
Maharashtra. The state government organizes the major function in
Mumbai. Maharashtra Day is held at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai.
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Mahavir Jayanti
The birth anniversary of the
24th and the last Tirthankara of the Jains, Vardhman Mahavir, the
founder of Jainism, is celebrated by the Jain community in March.
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Mount Mary
Mount Mary's Festival is
celebrated for single week through September at Mount Mary Church,
Bandra in the suburbs of Mumbai, Maharashtra. This fair, which is also
commonly known as the Bandra fair is celebrated on the occasion of
Mother Mary's birthday. |
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Muharram
This Muslim festival of
mourning is observed in the first month of the Hijra year, Muharram. The
festival commemorates the martyrdom of the prophet Mohammed's grandson-
Hazrat Imam Hussein.
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Nag Panchami
Nag Panchami is the festival
of snakes. Offerings are made to snake images and snake charmers flock
into the city with real snakes to celebrate the festival in respect of
Serpent Ananta, upon whose coils Lord Vishnu rests |
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Narali Poornima
Celebrated in the month of
August, the Nariel Purnima or coconut day is dedicated to the sea god
Varuna. This festival marks the end of the monsoons and is celebrated by
the fishermen of Maharashtra.
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Navaratra
Mahalaxmi Fair
Navaratra Mahalaxmi Fair is
celebrated for ten days from Ashvina Sud.1 to Ashvina Sud. 10 at
Navaratra Mahalaxmi Temple of Jalgaon district in Maharashtra. Devotees
are mostly from Jalgaon town and nearby villages. |
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Palkhi Festival
Palki festival showcases the
unique feature of the Maharashtrian culture. This is a 1000-year-old
tradition, which has been following by the warkaris (people who follow
the wari, a fundamental ritual). People perform collective singing,
dancing,
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Parsi New Year
Mumbai's Zoroastrian
community commemorates its forefather's escape from Persia by conducting
rituals at fire temples, visiting friends and indulging in legendary
feasting. |
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Pola
The harvest fair is celebrated by farmers all over
Maharashtra. On this day bullocks, which are an integral part of the
agricultural chores and consequently the village economy, are honored.
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Pune Festival
Pune festival is held
between August and September during Ganesh Mahotsav. It is the biggest
festival of Pune. The festival goes for ten days - starts with the
installation of idols of Lord Ganesha on the first day to immersion of
the Lord's idols on the tenth day. |
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Rath Yatra
This spectacular chariot
festival is held at the famous Jagannath Temple at Puri. Images of Lord
Jagannath- the Lord of the Universe, his sister Subhadra and brother
Balbhadra are taken out in procession in three immense chariots.
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Shivaji Jayanti
Shivaji Maharaj was the
greatest ruler of Maharashtra. So, Maharashtrians have a great regard
for this Maratha ruler. To give a respect, the birthday of Chatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj is celebrated on huge scale on February 19th every year. |
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Shrirama Rathodsava
Shrirama Rathotsava Mandir,
which belongs to the Peshwa period, is located near Jalgaon,
Maharashtra. Shrirama Rathotsava Fair is celebrated annually in this
temple between October and November months to give a special veneration
to the deities.
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Snake Festival
Snakes festival is
celebrated for 8-10 days at the small town of Battis Shirala,
Maharashtra, which is 50 km from Kolhapur. The festival is celebrated on
the onset of the monsoons, and it is believed to counter the increased
opportunity of snakebites for the duration of this time. |
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Wat Poornima
Wat Pournima is the festival for Maharashtrian
women, which is famous in the month of Jesht (May-June). Women observe a
fast and tie threads around a banyan tree and pray for the same husband
in every birth.
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