 The people of Maharashtra are vibrant and ready to enjoy and rejoice the various festivals that take place in the state. Festivals of all the religions and faiths are celebrated with equal fervour and joy. On festivals, the Marathi people wear new clothes, cook sweet meats and rejoice by playing, dancing and singing. Along with the festivals small villages have fairs for the deity, which has almost anything, from eating joints to small play theatres where people perform and loads of things on display and sale.
Although Maharashtra has majority of Hindu population, it celebrates other festivals by having an extra holiday. Mostly the schools and colleges are closed for all the festivals and Government offices are closed for a few important festivals.
Another peculiarity of the Marathi festivals is the sweets that are made. Mostly the Marathi women make sweets in the house and every festival has its typical sweet meat!
Gudhi Padava: The Marathi year starts with the month of Chaitra of Hindu calendar that falls somewhere in March-April. The people tie flowers and leaves on their doors and they put a long stick with a vessel and decorate it with cloth, flowers to welcome the New Year. This is known as the Gudhi, which is also worshipped.
People consider this day to be auspicious and start new ventures and cook and eat good meals.
Ram Navami: This is the second festival in the Marathi calendar and is celebrated for the birth of Legend Prince Ram�s birth. Devotees throng the temples to worship the God and give offerings and take blessings.
Easter: The Christian festival, which rejoices the rebirth of Jesus Christ, 40 days after he was assassinated, is celebrated mostly in Mumbai and its neighbouring areas. The Christian community fasts for 40 days before rejoicing on this day. A mass is held in all the churches on this day to end the mourning. Shops are full with sweets and people are seeing buying them.
Bakri Id: The feast of sacrifice, Idul-Adha, in India pronounced Id-ul -Zuha and popularly known as Bakri Id. The Muslim festival celebrates the unique sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of God. Namaz is read and Muslims sacrifice one animal per house or lane, whichever is possible on this day.
Maharashtra Din: A festival devoted to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. It is time for young girls to dress up in their finery and pray for grooms of their choice while the married women pray for the well-being of their husbands. This 18-day festival is laced with various activities and culminates in a grand procession marking the arrival of Shiva to escort his bride home.
Then the festivals like the Buddha Jayanti, celebrating the birth of Lord Buddha and Mahavir Jayanti, celebrating the birth of Lord Mahavira comes. The Jain and the Buddhist communities arrange sermons and pray during these festivals.
A small festival rather penance is celebrated by the women of Maharashtra on the Wat Savitri day which falls in June.
Ashadhi Ekadashi: This is a big Hindu festival in Maharashtra falling in the month of June � July. It is the 11th day in the month of Ashadh. This festival actually commemorates the starting of four pious months in the Hindu calendar. Also the actual festive season begins from this day onwards. Legend says that Lord Vishnu falls asleep on this day only to wake up four months later in the month of Kartik; i.e. October November. People fast on this day and throngs of devotees worship Pandurang, in Pandharpur on this day.
Nag Panchami: With the onset of the Month of Shravan (August) comes the Nagpanchami. India believes in snake God and the Marathi worship it on this day. Actually it is the beginning of ploughing season and the snakes are requested to leave the fields so as their families are not destroyed. The farmers do not plough and normally religious people do not use any sharp edged weapon or cut anything on this day.
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Independence Day: 15th August of every year is celebrated as the Independence Day. It was in this day that India gained independence from the British rule in 1947. Flags are hoisted and the national anthem is sung. All the offices and mostly even the shops are closed as everybody celebrates this national day.Independence Day: 15th August of every year is celebrated as the Independence Day. It was in this day that India gained independence from the British rule in 1947. Flags are hoisted and the national anthem is sung. All the offices and mostly even the shops are closed as everybody celebrates this national day.