Maharashtra is the third largest state of India in terms of land area and second largest in terms of population in India. It has a long history of Marathi saints of Varakari religious movement, such as Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Chokhamela, Eknath and Tukaram which forms the one of bases of the culture of Maharashtra or Marathi culture.[1] Maharashtrian culture had large influence over neighbouring regions under the Maratha Empire.[2]
The state of Maharashtra spans multiple cultures which includes cultures related to Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians, etc. Lord Ganesha, Maruti, Mahadeo in form of Shivlinga, Khandoba, Kalubai devi, and Lord Vitthal are some of the deities worshipped by Hindus of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra is divided into 5 regions: Konkan, Paschim Maharashtra, North Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha. Each has its own cultural identity in the form of different dialects of Marathi language,[3] folk songs, food, dress and ethnicity.
- ^ "Sant Bhumi Maharashtra". Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Shivaji Maharaj, Founder and an Ideal ruler of Hindavi Swarajya". 28 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Languages in Maharashtra". Archived from the original on 2015-12-30. Retrieved 2015-11-21.