Maharashtra is a modern Indian state that stretches from the Arabian Sea to the Deccan Plateau, reaching east through the Western Ghats.
Maharashtra is one of the "linguistic" states
established following India's independence in 1947, with the goal of uniting
people who share a similar language and culture (in this instance, Marathi)
under a single government.
It was established in 1960 when the previous state of Bombay
was divided into the current states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Bombay, India's capital, is the country's financial and
industrial hub.
The western parts are heavily industrialized, whilst the
eastern regions are mainly agrarian, with sugar plantations dominating the
landscape.
Maharashtra is historically the home of the Marathas, a clan
whose eighteenth-century dominion spanned much of northern India.
Maharashtra is home to the Rashtriya Svayamsevak Sangh and
the Shiv Sena, two Hindu nationalist groups that have attempted to influence
Indian politics.
In addition to its economic and political significance, the
state is home to several historical, cultural, and religious attractions.
The rock-cut caverns of Ellora, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site; the Buddhist caves of Ajanta; and the cave temple at Elephanta in the
Bombay port are among the historical and cultural monuments.
The Godavari and Bhima rivers, as well as their associated
sacred sites (tirthas); sites associated with the Varkari Panth religious
community, particularly the temple to the god Vithoba at Pandharpur; and three
of the jyotirlingas, which are particularly holy to the god Shiva:
Bhimashankar, Ghrneshvar, and Tryambakeshvar.
See Christine Nivin et al., India. 8th ed., Lonely Planet,
1998, for general information about Maharashtra and other Indian states.
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