Seasons in Maharashtra
Songs, Dances, Festivals and Food
Summer
Summer season in Maharashtra sets somewhere around the month of March and till May, the temperatures are at their highest. However, the occasional thunderstorms are what bring relief from the scorching sun. During this time, the average temperature remains in the range of 22 deg C to 40 deg C.
Songs and Dances: Lavni, Dhangri Gaja.
Festivals: Holi, Gudi Padwa, Ambedkar Jayanthi
Food: Chicken Kollapuri, Kulfi, Bombil Fry, Kande Pohe, Puran Poli.
Monsoon.
Rainfall starts normally in the first week of June. July is the wettest month in Maharashtra, while August too gets substantial rain. Monsoon starts its retreat with the coming of September from the state.
Songs and Dances: koli dance, tamasha, dindi dance
Festivals: Ganesh Chaturthi
Food: Pav Bhaji, Vada-Pav, Shankarpali, Karanji, Chakli, Modak
Winter
Cool dry spell, with clear skies gentle breeze and pleasant weather prevails from November to February. But the eastern part of Maharashtra sometimes receives some rainfall. Temperature varies between 12°C-34°C during this season.
Songs and Dances : Folk Dances
Festivals: Dussehra
Food: sugarcane juice, roasted corncob, meat curries.
Similarities with another state.
Gujarat
The states of Maharashtra and Gujarat are culturally varied and distinct:
- Maharasthrian culture derives from the ancient Hindu Vedic culture influenced deeply by the Maratha Empire. Gujarati culture is a blend of Indian culture and foreign influence (Parsis).
- Maharashtrian cuisine is diverse and ranges from bland to fiery hot.Gujarati cuisine is almost exclusively vegetarian. Gujarat is one of three states in India, with prohibition on alcohol. In contrast, Maharashtra has some of the best vineyards in India.
- Navratri, Uttarayana, Diwali, Holi and Tazia are some of the festivals celebrated in Gujarat.
- Makar Sankranthi is celebrated both in Maharashtra and Gujarat.