Two of the well-known handicrafts of Maharashtra are Kollapuri Chappals and the Paithani Sari in silk, bordered with opulent sari. These have won aficionados from all over the world. In Maharashtra even heavy things like stones are imbued with lightness. The blend of gravity and lightness, of earthiness and transcendence explains why master pieces like the Kailas temple at Ellora or the wall paintings at Ajanta or the Maheshamurthi at Elephanta-which Andre Malarauy called world’s greatest stone sculpture-could be made alone in Maharashtra. The state is also well known for its music. They include folk forms like gondhals and bharuds. India’s greatest treatise on classical music of medieval times, the Sangitratnakara, was written by Sharangdev in the 13^th century. Maharashtra also has a flourishing theatre tradition.

Tamasha is one of the famous folk dances of the state. The film industry, a phenomenon that began haltingly with Dadasaheb Phalke and his altruistic Raja Harishchandra is now a 200-film-a year, mega million industry.