Maharashtra’s folk traditions took centre stage at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) during the Ganeshotsav season, with a dhol-tasha procession, lezim performers, a flag squad and traditional artists bringing a distinctly Maharashtrian character to the airport.
A special procession was organised at the airport in the morning to mark the arrival of Lord Ganesha. It featured a flag squad, lezim performers, abdagiri and a dhol-tasha troupe, while airline employees also participated in traditional attire.
The celebrations continued with ‘The Folk Marathi’, a cultural programme organised at NMIA to showcase Maharashtra’s folk traditions to passengers and airport visitors.
The programme featured devotional songs dedicated to Lord Ganesha, along with traditional Balya dance performed by a troupe of artists from the Konkan region. Folk music and other traditional dance performances were also presented during the programme.
Through music and dance, the event offered passengers travelling through the airport an opportunity to experience elements of Maharashtra’s cultural heritage alongside the Ganeshotsav celebrations.
The performances also received an enthusiastic response from passengers and airline employees, creating a festive atmosphere within the airport terminal.
For an airport that serves travellers arriving from and departing for different parts of India and beyond, the programme provided a platform to present Maharashtra’s folk music, dance and festival traditions to a wider travelling audience during one of the state’s major cultural celebrations.
