AMRAVATI

Rangoli is a traditional folk art form created to mark auspicious occasions, festivals, and special events. It is characterized by intricate patterns and vibrant colors, often designed on the ground using a variety of materials. The practice is deeply rooted in cultural traditions and is widely observed across India.

In Amravati district, the art form holds a special place between both domestic and public spaces. It holds a significant place for the local community and notably, rangoli artists from the artists have also set national records. In 2012, artists in Amravati created a 1,504-foot-long rangoli at Jog Stadium to raise awareness about social issues such as the importance of saving the girl child and protecting the environment. The initiative involved 13 artists and was recognized by the India Book of Records to be the longest rangoli ever made.

Amravati has historically been associated with textile-based crafts. According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India: Berar (1909), the region produced a range of traditional textiles and handwoven items. Silk weaving was notably carried out in Kholapur, a village in the Amravati district, where fascinatingly, pitambars (yellow garment or shawl associated with religious traditions) were produced.

Cotton carpets were manufactured in Akot and Ellichpur, while various other textiles, such as saris, turbans, and blankets, were woven in different parts of the district. Ellichpur and Wun were also known for producing khadis, a type of indigenous cotton fabric weaved in different colours and textures.

Patchwork is the technique of sewing together different fabric pieces to create decorative or functional designs. It is another textile tradition which can be seen in Amravati. Locals say that it remains a part of local household craft practices, often used to repurpose fabric in quilts, cushion covers, and clothing and has historically been a vital source of employment for many women in the district.

The Nand Ganpati Museum is located along the Paratwada–Chikhaldara road. It is perhaps a very unusual museum which houses a huge collection of Ganpati murtis. It was notably curated by Pradeep and Deepali Nand who hold the record for the highest number of Ganesha murtis collected in a single location, as recognised by the India Book of Records.

The exhibit includes murtis sourced from across India and abroad, displayed in a variety of forms, poses, depictions, and artistic styles. The museum is open to the public, with an affordable entry fee, and serves as a cultural attraction in the district. It is regarded as one of the first comprehensive museums of its kind dedicated solely to Bhagwan Ganesha.

Geeta Sane was a Marathi writer, educator, and feminist thinker from Umravathi in present-day Amravati district, Maharashtra. Active during the 1930s and later, she was one of the early women writers in Maharashtra to explore themes of gender, autonomy, and social reform through both fiction and nonfiction.

Remarking on her place in the literary canon, scholars Susie Tharu and K. Lalita write (1991) “Geeta Sane connects the ongoing, hidden discriminations against women with questions of class and nation.” Her literary contributions are considered an important part of early feminist discourse in Marathi literature.

Sane began writing in the late 1920s, and her work consistently examined the contradictions faced by women navigating education, marriage, and personal freedom during a period of shifting societal values. She wrote essays and articles for Marathi publications, including the women’s magazine Stree, and also published several novels that centered on women’s interior lives and social roles.

Her nonfiction work Bharatiya Stree Jeewan (1985) examined the condition of women in Indian society, drawing from both personal and political contexts. In fiction, her novels such as Nikhalati Hirakani (1935), Wathalela Wruksha (1936), Avishkar (1939), and Deepastambha (1950) depicted characters who challenged traditional expectations and struggled with the limitations of liberal reform.

In addition to her literary work, Sane taught mathematics and remained engaged in public discourse through contributions to magazines like Stree. She married political activist Narasimha Dhagamwar, who was among those charged in the Meerut Conspiracy Case of 1929.

Balwant Ganesh Khaparde, also known as Annasaheb Khaparde, was a Sanskrit and Marathi poet. He founded the Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh (VSS) in 1923, a literary institution that supported writers, poets, and artists from the Central Provinces and Berar region, now in Maharashtra.

In 1922, he attended a poets’ meet organized by the Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad in Pune. After returning to Amravati, he proposed a similar platform for Vidarbha, with support from Wamanrao Joshi, Damodar Keshav Oak, and Balkrishna Gadkari. VSS was established on 14 January 1923, with Justice Keshavrao Koratkar as its first president.

Khaparde was also a Sanskrit lecturer at Banaras Hindu University and was associated with Rabindranath Tagore. He received the title Kavi Bhushan for his work in Sanskrit poetry.

Suresh Bhat was a Marathi poet from Amravati, known for popularizing the ghazal form in Marathi literature. Born into a Karhade Brahmin family, he was the son of Shridhar Bhat, a physician. Encouraged by his mother, he developed an early interest in poetry and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1955.

Bhat’s work is noted for its emotional depth and lyrical quality. His ghazals gained widespread recognition, with several set to music and performed by singers such as Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale. He addressed personal and psychological struggles through his poetry, which played a key role in establishing the ghazal as a respected form in Marathi literary circles.

Tanveer Ghazi is an Indian lyricist, poet, and author known for his contributions to Bollywood films. His notable works include lyrics for movies such as Pink (2016), October (2018), Hate Story 2, and Yeh Saali Aashiqui. Ghazi has also participated in various literary programs, including Sahitya Aajtak.​

In addition to his film work, Ghazi has authored an anthology of poems titled Ishq Musafir, which explores themes of love and human emotions. His poetry is recognized for its depth and lyrical quality, reflecting his profound understanding of human relationships and societal nuances.​