Question

Write a short note on festivals and their significance during the Maratheshahi period.

Answer 1

Instructions:
The answer to this question can be broken into 3 main parts:

• Mention the various festivals that were celebrated during the period.
• Mention the important festivals and their significance.
• Describe how people celebrated these festivals.

Solution:
People during the Maratheshahi used to celebrate many festivals like Gudhi Padwa, Nagpanchmi, Bail-pola, Dasara, Diwali, Makarsankrant, Holi, and Eid, among other festivals.
Ganeshotsava was considered highly significant and was celebrated by the common people as well as the Peshwa from Bhadrapad Chaturthi upto Anant Chaturdashi.
Dasara was also one of the very important festivals as it was considered as an auspicious occasion and people used to initiate new things like campaigns on this day.
Festivals like Diwali, Balipratipada, and Bhau-beej held special significance and fairs were held during these festivals.
People used to celebrate these festivals with the help of various programmes including songs, dance, and tamasha.