These 5 traditional dance forms of Maharashtra are very famous, know their special things

Updated: 06-02-2026, 08.17 AM

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The people of Maharashtra give great importance to their artistic culture, which is reflected in the dance forms here. Dance here is not only a means of entertainment but also reflects the rich cultural heritage of the state. The traditional dance forms here offer a unique combination of folk art, music and drama. In today’s article we will talk about 5 traditional dance forms of Maharashtra and also discuss their special features.

Lavani

Lavani is the most famous folk dance of Maharashtra, performed mainly by women. This dance form is presented in weddings, festivals and other celebrations. In Lavani, women wear traditional Maharashtrian sarees and dance to loud music. Songs also play an important role in this dance, which are based on love, separation and social issues. This is a dance used to boost the morale of soldiers in the Peshwa period i.e. 18th-19th century.

pageant

Tamasha is a very popular folk dance of Maharashtra, which originated between the 16th and 17th centuries. In this one performance you will get to see a unique combination of lavani, music, acting and dance. Dholki, Tuntuni and Manjire are traditionally played while performing this dance. It has two types, which is Dholki based i.e. dramatic and music based i.e. focused on dance. It is often offered at village crossroads.

legim

Legim is also a folk dance of Maharashtra, which some people also know by the name Legium. It is named after a special musical instrument, which is performed by holding it in the hand. The legim is a small musical instrument with many cymbals attached to it. The traditional Legim dance involves at least 20 people and is performed mostly by women.

Kala Dandya

During Navratri, there is a special dance in Maharashtra, which is called Kala Dandya. It is very similar to Dandiya, because it is also done with the help of sticks. This dance is performed to the beat of dhol and tabla, during which the dancers stand in a large circle. Now they move slowly and dance and also fight with each other with their sticks. This is done in the same way as Dandiya is played.

worli

You must have heard about Warli art, but a dance form named Warli is also popular in Maharashtra. Many people also call it Tarpa dance. It is mainly practiced by the people of Worli tribe of Palghar, Thane and Nashik districts. It is performed to the tune of a musical instrument called Tarpa and the dancers perform it in a circle. During this, the dancers put their hands around each other’s waist and dance in circles.