Festivals of Maharashtra
Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in the country. It is located in Western India and has a coastline surrounded by the Arabian Sea. It has a majority of the Marathi-speaking population and hence all the Marathi festivals are celebrated with grandeur in this state. The most famous festival is the Nag Panchmi. Nag Panchmi is celebrated in the honor of the Snake God Shesha Nag on the fifth day of the holy month of Shravan. Snake worship is an important ritual in India, and on this festival, cobras made of clay are worshipped in homes.
Gudhi Padwa is the harvest festival of Maharashtra. Gudhi is a symbol of victory, characterized by a bamboo stick with a silk cloth. It is decorated with flowers and has sweets offered to it. People bring in the new year by worshipping the Gudhi and distributing prasad or sweets among the people in the community. Sweet dishes like Shrikhand or Basundi are prepared and eaten by the members of one family and relatives. There are many other grand festivals celebrated in Maharashtra like Ganesh Chaturthi, Narali Poornima, Janmashtmi, Makar Sakranti, Bhau Beej, etc. It is a vast state with numerous celebrations and festivals happening all year round.
Dates of festivals that follow the lunar calendar can shift by a day depending on the moon and on official notifications. Please confirm with your state government or employer before planning.