High 5

The elegant and graceful nine-yard drape gives a traditional Maharashtrian woman her distinct identity.

We take you down the journey of Maharashtra,creating nostalgia,celebrating change and talking about five things that speak of the essence of Maharashtra

Nauvari
The elegant and graceful nine-yard drape gives a traditional Maharashtrian woman her distinct identity. Paithani is usually the preferred kind for a Nauvari for its intricate and colourful peacock design. In the olden days,women were also given the responsibility of helping their male counterparts during wars,and thus emerged the style. Rohan Shah,owner,Hind Saree centre says,Nauvari is a very conventional style of draping a saree. In fact a lot of young women opt for Nauvaris for their weddings and other celebrations.

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Lavani
Lavani comes from the word lavanya,which means beauty. The roots of this dance form were strengthened during the Peshwa rule. The loud thumps of the Dhol and synchronised legwork define the rhythmic movement,creating a performance worth remembering. The status of Lavani has improved. It is viewed as a respectable dance style and its growth should be encouraged, says famous Lavani artist,Surekha Punekar. Lavani has seen its share of ups and downs mostly at the hands of high caste disapproval,but today has emerged as a celebrated form of art.

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Forts
The strong walls of the forts of Maharashtra tell the illustrious tale of the states history. Many a battles have been fought and won at the foot of forts like Sindhudurg,Torna,Sinhagad,Daulatabad and Vijaydurg. Right from the coastal region upto the Vidarbha,around 450 such forts dot the map of Maharashtra. City historian Ninad Bedekar says,”Forts are like a state’s treasure trove. Shivaji built around 207 forts to fight the atrocious rule of the Mughals.”

Vada Pav
Often referred to as the poor mans meal,Vada Pav has acquired quiet a global status. With variations like cheese Vada Pav and Manchurian Vada Pav also available,it has undergone a visible change over the years. This popular delicacy has still tried to fight this globalisation by maintaining its originality and remains a favorite on our list. Talking about this humble food preparation,Vasundhara Joshi,owner of Joshi Wadewale says,It is an easy preparation,doesnt take much time and is tasty as well. It fits the bill of a fast food,as its easy to consume on the go. In 1989,the year it was started,Joshi Wadewale sold one Vada Pav for Re 1.

Ganeshotsav
Fond memories of modaks,pandal hopping and the final day of Visarjan define the 10 days of festivities for us. Maharashtra is also the land of Ashtavinayak (eight Ganpatis) and houses powerful shrines like our very own Dagdusheth and Mumbais Lalbaghcha Raja Its a festival that now transcends borders and has become a huge phenomenon. The festival was started as a means of social gathering by Lokmanya Tilak.

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