CM Fadnavis: Maharashtra folk art shines at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Synopsis
At the Independence Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Maharashtra's Dhangari Gaja and Lavani performances captivated guests in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu. CM Devendra Fadnavis celebrated the moment as a proud assertion of Maharashtra's folk identity on India's grandest national stage.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra's Dhangari Gaja and Lavani were performed at the Independence Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 15, 2026 .
The event was presided over by President Droupadi Murmu and featured cultural representations from multiple Indian states.
CM Devendra Fadnavis described the occasion as an 'enchanting vision' of India's cultural diversity.
Dhangari Gaja is rooted in Maharashtra's pastoral Dhangar community; Lavani is one of the state's most iconic folk-dance traditions.
Fadnavis credited the performances with underlining Maharashtra's 'distinct identity' on a national stage.
Maharashtra's living cultural traditions took centre stage at the grandest address in the country on Independence Day — and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made sure the nation noticed. At the Independence Day reception hosted at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, performers representing Maharashtra brought two of the state's most distinctive folk forms to a national audience.
Dhangari Gaja and Lavani hold the floor at the President's house
Dhangari Gaja — a vibrant folk tradition rooted in the pastoral Dhangar community of Maharashtra — and the celebrated Lavani dance were performed at the reception, sharing the stage with cultural representations from other states across India. CM Fadnavis, posting on X, described the event as a 'मनोहारी दर्शन' (enchanting vision) of the country's cultural diversity, noting that Maharashtra's folk arts had carved out a 'distinct identity' on this national platform.
Dhangari Gaja is traditionally associated with the shepherd communities of Maharashtra's Marathwada and western regions, performed as devotional and celebratory expression. Lavani, one of Maharashtra's most recognised performing arts, blends poetry, rhythm, and expressive dance — historically performed at royal courts and community gatherings alike. Both forms carry deep roots in the state's rural and folk heritage.
India's cultural mosaic on display at Rashtrapati Bhavan
The Independence Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan is an annual tradition where states present their cultural heritage before the President and distinguished guests, turning the forecourts of the republic's first address into a living canvas of India's diversity. This year's edition, presided over by President Droupadi Murmu, drew participation from multiple states — Maharashtra's entry standing out, according to Fadnavis, for its folk specificity and energy.
For Fadnavis, the moment carried a dual significance: a celebration of Maharashtra's cultural wealth and a quiet assertion that the state's traditions belong on every national stage — not just regional ones.
When the footlights of Rashtrapati Bhavan fall on a Dhangari drum and a Lavani beat, Maharashtra is not just performing — it is reminding the republic of who it is.
Point of View
A politically significant constituency in Maharashtra. The framing of folk art as a marker of national unity while asserting state distinctiveness reflects a broader BJP cultural-federalism playbook. The Independence Day reception thus becomes both celebration and statement.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dhangari Gaja dance?
Dhangari Gaja is a traditional folk art of Maharashtra's Dhangar (shepherd) community, performed as a devotional and celebratory expression rooted in the Marathwada and western regions of the state.
What is Lavani dance?
Lavani is one of Maharashtra's most celebrated folk performing arts, combining poetry, rhythmic music, and expressive dance. It has historical roots in royal courts and community gatherings across the state.
What happened at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Independence Day 2026?
President Droupadi Murmu hosted the annual Independence Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where states including Maharashtra presented their cultural heritage through folk performances.
Why did CM Fadnavis post about the Rashtrapati Bhavan event?
CM Devendra Fadnavis shared the moment to highlight Maharashtra's folk traditions — Dhangari Gaja and Lavani — earning a prominent platform at a national event presided over by the President of India.
Which Maharashtra folk arts were performed at Rashtrapati Bhavan?
Dhangari Gaja and Lavani dance were the two Maharashtra folk forms performed at the Independence Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu.
