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MUMBAI: Maharashtra – a state know for its rich diverse art, geography, tradition, music and culture etc., celebrated its 59th anniversary yesterday. Formed in 1960, this Marathi province boasts of a humongous musical reservoir, which is also used in Bollywood film. So, we thought of decoding Maharashtra’s priceless musical legacy, it has offered to the world of music.
Abhang
The tradition of Abhang dates even before India’s independence, even before British invaded India. Abhangs are a form of devotional poetry, which were usually written by saints and over a period of time they were sung on musical tunes. These compositions were composed some centuries ago and the beauty is that they are still sung and enjoyed. They were sung by legends like Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and new age singers like Mahesh Kale.
Dhol Tasha
A physical form of music, which is high on energy, Dhol Tasha is played across the state for any happy occasion, be it Ganesh Ustav, weddings or even political rallies. The culture developed in the 1960s, in Pune, and today there are various forms of Dhol Tasha groups among which Pune Dhol or Nasik dhol are the most famous. The Dhol troupes or popularly known as pathak start their practice at least three months prior to Ganpati festival when it is mostly played.
Lazim
Lazim is a peculiar dance practiced only in the state of Maharashtra. The dance form has a small jingling cymbal. This form is extremely popular in schools of rural areas of Maharashtra. It is more of a physical exercise set to musical tunes of the cymbals and Dhol as the percussion. While it is usually seen at festivals or jatras (Fairs in villages) Lezim dance was also performed in Asia Games in 1982 with over 400 Lezim dancers participating in it.
Lavani
An art form developed to entertain soldiers at the army camps, Lavani dates back to Shivaji rule. It is a serious form of art, which is high on content and is performance oriented. The art ranges from subtle hints of suggestive gestures to a high level of seduction. Lavani too has various forms and has seeped into movie making too. Unfortunately, the art form is dying slowly due to the wrong perception created.
