NAGPUR

Nagpur reflects Maharashtra’s vibrant cultural spirit through a range of fairs and festivals celebrated across the district. These occasions often bring together religious devotion, seasonal cycles, and community participation, shaping the district’s cultural identity. Prominent festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Holi, Gudi Padwa, Ashadi Ekadashi, Akshay Tritiya, Navratri, Dussehra, Mahashivratri, Shivaji Jayanti, Makar Sankranti, Nag Panchami, and Vat Purnima are widely observed. However, the district is especially known for Tanha Pola, a unique children’s festival honoring the role of bulls in agriculture, and the Ramnavami Jatra at Ramtek, a major yatra event centered around the historic Ram Mandir. Together, these celebrations offer insight into the district’s social fabric and collective rhythms of life.

Dussehra at the Ramtek Gad Mandir is celebrated with distinct local traditions. Notably, unlike most other parts in India, the Ravan murti here is made of clay. A clay idol of Surpanakha is also crafted and placed behind the idol of Ravan. Clay idols of Shri Ramji, Lakshman, and Sita are made as well and carried out in a chariot procession on the day of Dussehra. Eventually, the idol of Ravan is destroyed to mark the end of the celebration.

The Kalidas Festival is a two-day cultural event held annually in November at Ramtek, near Nagpur. It is organized by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in collaboration with the District Collectorate of Nagpur. Celebrated in honour of the great Sanskrit poet and playwright Kalidas, the festival showcases India’s classical heritage through performances of music, dance, and drama.

The Kalidas Festival is held against the scenic backdrop of Ramtek, a hill town believed to have inspired Kalidas’s renowned works such as Meghdootam, Ritusamhaara, and Kumaarasambhavam. According to popular belief, Kalidas visited Ramtek during his travels and composed verses that immortalized its natural beauty. Today, the festival pays tribute to that literary legacy by bringing together artists and audiences from across India.

The performances take place near the historic Ramtek Mandir complex, which overlooks the surrounding hills and lakes. This picturesque setting adds a timeless charm to the festival. Over two days, acclaimed performers present a variety of classical forms including Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Hindustani vocal, and theatre productions inspired by Kalidas’s works. Each performance is carefully curated to reflect the artistic excellence that Kalidas himself is known for.

The Kalidas Festival serves as a cultural bridge that connects contemporary audiences with the artistic and intellectual legacy of ancient India. It also revives the spirit of Vidarbha’s golden era, celebrating the region’s continued contribution to India’s cultural landscape. The festival is attended by scholars, artists, and cultural enthusiasts alike, making it one of the most anticipated events in the district’s annual calendar.

Marbat Utsav is a unique cultural festival celebrated annually in Nagpur, primarily on the second day of the Tanha Pola festival in August or September. It is one of the region’s most distinct traditions, where effigies symbolizing evil forces or societal problems are paraded through the streets and ritually burned or immersed to ward off negativity and protect the city from harm.

The festival dates back to the 19th century and originated as a symbolic protest during the colonial period. The effigies, known as Marbats, are made from clay, hay, and cloth. The two main effigies are Kala Marbat (Black Marbat) and Pivli Marbat (Yellow Marbat), representing different kinds of negativity or social evils. Smaller figures known as Badgyas, often resembling animals or caricatures of societal concerns, are also created and included in the processions.

The processions begin from various localities in East Nagpur, especially the Itwari area, and travel around 10 km through the city. The Pivli Marbat is traditionally taken out by the Teli Samaj Mandal in Tarhane, while families such as the Shendes of Jagnath Budhwari and the lineage of Sadashiv Vastad Tadikar have been making these effigies for generations. Participants dress in festive attire, play traditional instruments, and chant slogans that often reflect current social and political issues.

The highlight of the festival is the ritual burning or immersion of the Marbats at the end of the procession. This act symbolizes the destruction of evil and the collective desire to rid society of corruption, injustice, and other ills. The celebration also includes folk dances, street plays, and community feasts, bringing together people from different communities.

Marbat Utsav is more than a religious or seasonal observance—it is a form of social expression and collective resilience. With its vibrant visuals, grassroots participation, and emphasis on justice and harmony, the festival remains a powerful symbol of Nagpur’s cultural and civic spirit.

The Orange City Craft Mela and Folk Dance Festival is an annual national-level cultural event held in Nagpur. Organized by the South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the festival showcases India’s rich heritage through handicrafts, traditional cuisines, and folk and tribal dance performances from across the country. It provides a platform for artisans and performers to share their work, promote cultural exchange, and celebrate India’s artistic diversity.

The 31st edition of the festival was celebrated in January 2025 with exhibitions and sales of handicrafts such as hand block printing, Jamdani, Banarasi weaving, and embroidery, along with folk dances like Ghoomar, Rouf, Siddhi Dhamal, Karkattam, and Singhi Cham. Around 100 artisans and 300 dancers from various states participated, making it a vibrant showcase of craft and performance.

The Ramnavami Jatra is the main annual festival celebrated in Ramtek, a historic town named after Bhagwaan Ram. Held from Chaitra Sud. 1 to Chaitra Sud. 11 (March–April), the jatra marks the birth anniversary of Bhagwaan Ram. Another significant fair takes place from Kartika Sud. 11 to Kartika Sud. 15 (October–November) and commemorates the slaying of the rakshas Tripurasur. Ramtek, located about 1,508 ft. above sea level to the northeast of Nagpur, serves as the taluka headquarters.

The Ramnavami Fair is centered around the Ram Mandir, which stands atop a hill variously known as Ramgiri, Shendurgiri, or Tapogiri. The Mandir is situated 500 ft. above the town, in the westernmost part of the Ambagarh ranges. Stone steps that begin at the Ambala Tank on the eastern side, passing a masjid said to have been built in memory of Aurangzeb’s courtiers, lead to the Mandir. The Mandir complex is accessible via multiple entrance gates—Varaha Darwaja, Sinhapur Darwaja, Bhairao Darwaja, and Gokul Darwaja—each leading into different courtyards.

The Ramnavami Jatra features various rituals and sites of worship within the Mandir complex. Several tirthsthans dedicated to devtas such as Dhumreshwar, Nrisinha, Trivikram, Varaha, and Vishnu attract pilgrims. A large Varaha murti, built by Raghuji Bhonsale I, stands just inside the Varaha Darwaja. Other notable structures include a Krishna Mandir of the Mahanubhav sect, a Radhakrishna Mandir near the Nagarkhana, and a Sabhamandap supported by eight pillars, where bhajans, kirtans, and pravachans are held.

The most significant Ramnavami festivities are celebrated between Chaitra Sud. 9 and Chaitra Sud. 11. On Chaitra Sud. 9, the Ram Janmotsav is celebrated by placing a small murti of Bhagwaan Ram in a cradle at noon, following a katha recital by the pujari. Large crowds gather for darshan, bhajans, and kirtans. On Chaitra Sud. 10, sweets are distributed as prasad, while Chaitra Sud. 11 features the Dahi Handi ritual, where a pot of curd is broken and parched rice is sprinkled on the people.

The Kartika Fair, held in October–November, follows a similar format of activities. From Kartika Sud. 11 onward, bhajans and kirtans are held leading up to Tripuri Purnima (Kartika Sud. 15). On that day, a ritual abhishek is performed for the devtas, and in the evening, a yellow silk cloth is burned in a gangal (brass pot) on the Mandir roof to symbolize the defeat of Tripurasur. During Navratri, flags are hoisted on Dasara, and an effigy of Ravan is burned in the Mandir courtyard.

The murtis of Bhagwaan Ram and Laxman, and Devi Sita, in the Ram Mandir are carved from black marble and depict them during their 14-year exile. Bhagwaan Ram and Laxman wear jata (matted hair), angarkha, uparne, and dhoti, while Devi Sita is adorned in a sari, blouse, and traditional ornaments. The murtis are crowned in gold, and daily puja rituals begin early in the morning with bathing of the murtis, floral decoration, incense, and aarti.

According to locals, Bhagwaan Ram, Laxman, and Devi Sita stayed on this hill during their exile. In 1736, Raghuji Bhonsale is believed to have taken a vow at Ramtek before attacking Deogad. After his victory, he intended to install marble murtis from Jaipur in the Mandir but reportedly received a divine vision instructing him to retrieve the existing ones from the Sur River. These murtis were installed in 1753, further enhancing the spiritual importance of Ramtek.

Tanha Pola is a unique festival celebrated in Nagpur, observed a day after the traditional Pola festival. It has been a part of the district’s cultural fabric for over two centuries and centers around honoring bulls for their contribution to agriculture.

The origins of Tanha Pola are traced back to 1789, when Shrimant Raje Raghuji Maharaj Bhonsale II is believed to have initiated the tradition. The festival was introduced as a way to educate young cowherds about the importance of bulls in farming and rural livelihoods. Aligned to this aim, children worship wooden bulls during the festival, which are specially decorated for the occasion. A major highlight of the festival is the procession of children carrying these wooden bulls through the streets. Elaborate symbolic gates made of sweets, sugarcanes, and puffed rice are placed along the route. These are ceremonially broken down during the procession, and the children are then given sweets and money as a gesture of reward and celebration.

Tanha Pola continues to be an important tradition in Nagpur, blending agricultural symbolism with intergenerational community participation.

Tirpur Purnima is a four-day annual festival celebrated at the Ramtek Gad Mandir in Nagpur district. The festival begins on the full moon day of the month of Margashirsha (November–December) and holds deep ritual and historical significance linked to the Ramayana and the local traditions of Ramtek.

The celebration opens with a grand Shobha Yatra on the first day, starting from the 18 Bhuja Ganesh Mandir. The procession passes through the Ram Mandir and travels across the taluka, with participants performing cultural tableaux and folk acts. It concludes at Nehru Ground, where prizes are distributed for the performances.

On the second day, which marks the full moon, two key rituals take place at the Ramtek Gad Mandir. The worn-out clothes of the Ram and Lakshman murtis, used throughout the year, are ceremonially gathered and burnt near the Mandir’s kalash. Simultaneously, leftover cotton wicks (vaat) from the lamps are collected and burnt atop the Mandir’s shikhar. This flame is known as the Tipur, from which the festival gets its name—Tirpur Purnima. Historically, the light of the Tipur could be seen from the Raghuji Nagar area in Nagpur. Upon seeing it, a similar Tipur was lit on the shikhar of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir built by Raje Raghuji in that locality. A vibrant fair was once held in Sakkardara on this day, featuring swings, Chandan decorations, wrestling matches, and local entertainment.

The third day of the festival is marked by Mandai, a cultural programme held in Ramtek. It showcases rural artforms like Khada Tamasha, a mix of acting, dancing, and singing, along with martial displays such as Dandpatta, swordplay, and performances using laathis and wooden sticks. Folk artists from surrounding regions actively participate in these events, keeping traditional art and performance alive.