Maharashtra is a beautiful State with a rich culture and customs. Its folk dances are also very well known across the globe. Folk dances are still widely performed and captivate audiences with their variety of costumes, decorations, and colors. The following list includes some of the most well-known Maharashtrian folk dances. You can check out this post to get a better understanding of the list of folk dances of Maharashtra.
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List of Folk Dances of Maharashtra
Maharashtra offers a variety of dance genres according to its rich culture and customs. The Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj’s lifetime accomplishments are celebrated through the dancing style known as povada. The enchanting melody and rhythmic dances of the Lavani and Koli dance genres delight the Maharashtrians. The Dhangars of Sholapur perform the Dhangari Gaja dance as a form of worship. The holy folk dances Dindi and Kala convey the devotional rapture of Lord Krishna. The state’s most well-known folk dance is the tamasha. Lavani, Dhangarigaja, Lezim, Koli, Gondhal, and Tamasha are some of the most popular folk dances in Maharashtra. The majority of the dancers have been involved with these dances for the past ten years, receiving dance instruction from professional dancers and being inspired to perform by their own interests.
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Folk Dances of Maharashtra
The below given list states some of the popular folk dances of Maharashtra. Check the list below to know the details of these beautiful yet famous folk dances of Maharashtra.
Dhangari Gaja
It is one of the most famous folk dances of Maharashtra. The Dhangars of Maharashtra’s Sholapur district get to know nature as they lead their cattle to lush meadows for grazing. They write poetry, known as ovi, about nature and their God Biruba after being moved by the natural beauty. To please their Lord, they perform this dance. The dancers sway in time with the drumbeats while donning colorful tunics, dhotis, and handkerchiefs. The shepherd community known as the Dhangars from Maharashtra’s Sholapur area execute this dance. Their music and poetry reflect their rural way of existence.
Dindi and Kala
In Maharashtra, the sacred folk dances Dindi and Kala are used to convey religious rapture. On the occasion of Mangalagouri Puja, young women also perform a variety of folk dances called as phugadis. These traditional dances are traditional religious dances. Maharashtra’s Dindi is a religious folk dance. This dance is done on Ekadashi in the Hindu month of Kartik. This dance shows the playful and performing attributes of Lord Krishna. Whereas, folk dance known as kala expresses the feelings of Lord Krishna. This traditional dance represents fertility. The pot is broken by a man, who then sprinkles yogurt over the female dancers. After the ceremony’s opening, the dancers do a furious battle dance while waving swords and sticks. The beat of this dance style is what draws people in the most.
Koli Dance
The Koli fisher caste of Maharashtra practises koli as a form of dance. The locals do energetic dances and have their own unique identities. The dance combines the sea and fishing, two things that this community is most accustomed to. This community, like every other community, has a unique identity that sets it apart from others. It also features a unique dance and attire. The dancer is in the row across from the fishermen, who are walking toward her while holding hands. In this dance, two lines are broken and combined. When they represent the ocean waves, they cast a net over them and engage in fishing activities.
Lavani Dance
Lavanya, which means beauty, is the root of the term Lavani. This art form combines dance and music and explores a wide range of subjects, including society, religion, politics, romance, and more. There is a tendency toward spirituality in Nirguni Lavani. Shringari Lavani, however, is completely enveloped in Shringar Rasa. Women dance to the rhythms of the dholak, a drum-like instrument. It is amazing to watch women dance gracefully while wearing this nine-yard saree. This dance used to be performed in the past to help the Maratha army’s weary troops unwind.
Povadas Dance
Povadas are delivered in the style of Marathi ballads. The events in the life of the legendary Maratha king Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are depicted in this genre of dance. One of the most effective kings to establish the Maratha Empire was Shivaji. Men performers in this dance perform ballad-style moves while sporting traditional turbans. A colorful belt with side knots is worn by the dancer with a salwar.
Tamasha
In Persian, the word “tamasha” refers to amusement and fun. The Prahsana and the Bhana, two prehistoric forms of Sanskrit theatre, are said to be the ancestors of the tamasha dance style. It is an Indian traditional drama that embodies the cosmos. started in the 16th century in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. Therefore, this is a unique form of art. Drama takes the form of a show. In the sixteenth century, it began in Maharashtra. The folk art in this area differs differently from the other arts. This dance is performed by the Maharashtrian “Kolhati” community.
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In Persian the folk dance tamasha means entertainment.
Povadas folk dance of Maharashtra is dedicated to Ruler Shivaji.
The two kinds of Lavani folk dance are Nirguni Lavani and Shringari Lavani.
Dhangari Gaja dance comes from this district.
It is celebrated on the day of Ekadashi.
