Marathi Christians
Encyclopedia
Marathi Christians or Marathi Christi are an ethno-religious Community, resides in the state of Maharashtra
. There is a unique identity of Marathi Christians, also known as Maharashtrian Christians who are distinct from East Indian
Christians who are predominately Roman Catholics and original inhabitants of Mumbai
Thane
& Coastal area of Maharashtra. The Marathi Christians use Marathi
as their mother-tongue, in social life, inter-dinning etc. They also speak English for communication. Marathi Christians inhabitants of Western Maharashtra
i.e. Ahmednagar, Solapur
, & Aurangabad. The total Percentage of Christians in Maharashtra is only 3% (including East Indian
& Marathi Christians).
The majority of Marathi Christians are Protestants who found in small numbers in all over the Maharashtra
Large numbers in Ahmednagar, Solapur
, Aurangabad and Jalna
, Yavatmal
(Yeotmal). These are the only districts in Maharastra which has majority of Protestant Christians as compared to Roman Catholics. They belong to the American Marathi Mission
and The SPG Mission, Church Mission Society
of Church Of England
.
Majority Christians in Western Maharashtra are Protestants, Roman Catholics are found in very small numbers especially at urban area, some of them are local converts and others are emigrants from Thane
& Goa
. The Marathi Roman Catholics and Protestants are more united with each other than with their co-religionists of other communities.
The literacy rate is very high among Christians. They are well settled in Mumbai, Pune and Nasik areas. Many Marathi Christians have emigrated to other countries in the Anglosphere
with significant populations being present in the United States
, United Kingdom
and Australia
.
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Church
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converts. In Western Maharashtra, Christians are a great result of American Marathi Mission
and Church Mission Society
, SPG Mission by Church of England
. British
Missionary
William Carey
was instrumental in translating the Bible
into Marathi language
. Some American Missionaries like laymen who aided the establishment of the Ahmednagar branch, the chief was Dr. Graham then in medical charge of the Ahmednagar military Hospital, who procured for the mission, free use of the mansion Station known as Tewri Bagh, which was later used as Charitable dispensary called the Poor Asylum. Many People started to Convert from different caste and Religion. On 6th march 1832 the Mansion was organized as an independent church. Brahman
and other high class Hindus who had converted to Christianity of whom could read and write were employed as Catechist or Bibleman
. After that the mission opened a boy's and girl's boarding school for Christian
& Hindu
Students.
Church Mission Society
the mission of Church of England
for Propagating the Gospel was started in 1873, 40 years after the American Marathi mission Started, on the suggestion of the Rev. W. Boswell the chaplain of the area. After which the number of converts gradually increased and during the year 1882 more people were Baptized and Evangelized
.
. The Percentage of Christian Population in Ahmednagar, as recorded in the Census of 1881 in the old Gazetteer, was only 0.64% whereas it went up to 2.49% in 1901 and 2.72% in 1961 and in 2000 it increased to 10%. The followers of the American Marathi Mission found all over the Ahmednagar district except in the south-west. Every village has one or more resident families as Christian and every village has its own church for worship. Most of the people kept their names and surnames, but in naming their children they generally prefer English
to India
n names but some also prefer India
n names. Christians from Ahmednagar form one community and marry only within the district, but Brahmin and other High class Converts are averse from marrying with families who originally were lower castes, Caste system still prominent in local Christian only in subject of marriage. In home, family prayers are done once in a day, who can read, read a passage from the Bible
and hymn sings. The whole community has to attend Church on Sunday, Besides the Sunday meeting they hold prayer meeting
s on some week day when they pray together and exhort and encourage each other. Significant Marathi Christians are found in Eastern part of Ahemdnagar.
in 1854. After setting a Missionary Home in 1879, some people from different religion like Brahman
, Kunbi
, Goldsmith
and Many from Lower caste baptized. In Connection with Sharanpur an asylum which was started in Bombay in 1853, of freed African Slaves was established in 1860 at the expense of Government, between 1874 many African were received and taught to read and write Marathi
and English
. In 1874 the Asylum was broken up, and the inmates were sent back to their native country for form a Christian village at Mombasa
.
, and Roman Catholics and Protestants. However owing to the withdrawal of the Britishers and emigration of Europeans and Anglo-Indian
, the Christian Community in the district is now almost Indian, and governed to a great extent by Indian priest and Pastors. of Roman Catholics, about one-half are of Goan origin, the first batch of Goan Christians are said to have come to Poona to join as gunners in the Maratha army
, they were given a plot of land to build their quarters in khadak. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pune is a diocese located in the city of Pune. And Church of North India
Diocese also located in Pune. Christians live mostly in pune city, but there are small colonies of them, mostly employed in the railway.
Christianity arrived in the 18th century when the British took over the area From the Maratha Empire
, at that time American missionary were First to start Evangelize the local people.
There are several Churches in Pune
Protestant Churches
Roman Catholic Churches
The Vineyard is most popular place in Dapoli
Near Pune for Christian worship. Many people from different religion comes to attend prayer meeting
s in Vineyard.
The Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission at Kedgaon is well known for the Pioneer work for the emanicipation of Hindu widows.
, and other high castes.
s and Marathi Christians, such as dress, food and cuisine. The Hindu custom of wearing a mangalsutra
and placing bindis
is still prominent among native Christians. Putting turmeric on bride and bride groom's body before day of marriage which is Hindu custom still followed by Marathi Christians. Other religious traditions are much the same as elsewhere.
In Maharashtra, the great Marathi poet Narayan Wamanrao Tilak
realised that a Hindu-Christian synthesis was simply not possible unless the Christian religion had deep roots in the Indian culture. He trained the Marathi Christians to worship and sing Bhajans and Kirtans. He showed Christian faith in a genuinely Indian way.
village in Shrirampur
taluka of Ahmednagar district, it is set to receive thousands of devotees on the occasion of the annual 'yatra' (feast) of the 'Matmauli', the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 7 & 8. Haregaon is often described as the pandharpur
of the Marathi-speaking Catholics in the state as nearly four lakh devotees from Ahmednagar, Pune
, Nasik, Aurangabad districts and Mumbai
attend the 'Matmauli yatra' every year to celebrate the birthday of the mother of Jesus Christ. The Jesuit priests in the small village had started the feast in 1949.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. There is a unique identity of Marathi Christians, also known as Maharashtrian Christians who are distinct from East Indian
Indian people
Indian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...
Christians who are predominately Roman Catholics and original inhabitants of Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
& Coastal area of Maharashtra. The Marathi Christians use Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
as their mother-tongue, in social life, inter-dinning etc. They also speak English for communication. Marathi Christians inhabitants of Western Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
i.e. Ahmednagar, Solapur
Solapur
Solapur is a city in South Western Maharashtra, India governed by municipal corporation.Solapur is one of the four districts that form the region of Western Maharashtra . It is the fourth largest district in Maharashtra in terms of land area and seventh largest in terms of population...
, & Aurangabad. The total Percentage of Christians in Maharashtra is only 3% (including East Indian
Indian people
Indian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...
& Marathi Christians).
The majority of Marathi Christians are Protestants who found in small numbers in all over the Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
Large numbers in Ahmednagar, Solapur
Solapur
Solapur is a city in South Western Maharashtra, India governed by municipal corporation.Solapur is one of the four districts that form the region of Western Maharashtra . It is the fourth largest district in Maharashtra in terms of land area and seventh largest in terms of population...
, Aurangabad and Jalna
Jalna (city)
Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....
, Yavatmal
Yavatmal
Yavatmal is a city and municipal council of the Yavatmal district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The name derives from the Marathi Yavat and mal .-Demographics:yavatmal ,district in Amravati administrative division....
(Yeotmal). These are the only districts in Maharastra which has majority of Protestant Christians as compared to Roman Catholics. They belong to the American Marathi Mission
American Missionary Association
The American Missionary Association was a Protestant-based abolitionist group founded on September 3, 1846 in Albany, New York. The main purpose of this organization was to abolish slavery, to educate African Americans, to promote racial equality, and to promote Christian values...
and The SPG Mission, Church Mission Society
Church Mission Society
The Church Mission Society, also known as the Church Missionary Society, is a group of evangelistic societies working with the Anglican Communion and Protestant Christians around the world...
of Church Of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
.
Majority Christians in Western Maharashtra are Protestants, Roman Catholics are found in very small numbers especially at urban area, some of them are local converts and others are emigrants from Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
& Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. The Marathi Roman Catholics and Protestants are more united with each other than with their co-religionists of other communities.
The literacy rate is very high among Christians. They are well settled in Mumbai, Pune and Nasik areas. Many Marathi Christians have emigrated to other countries in the Anglosphere
Anglosphere
Anglosphere is a neologism which refers to those nations with English as the most common language. The term can be used more specifically to refer to those nations which share certain characteristics within their cultures based on a linguistic heritage, through being former British colonies...
with significant populations being present in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
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Miri-Maka
Miri one of the important town situated in Pathardi taluka, Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra on the Paithan road. And twenty miles to the south of Nevasa Miri is also known as Miri Maka because it has Maka village very close to it....
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History
In Western Maharashtra Christians are Hindu and MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
converts. In Western Maharashtra, Christians are a great result of American Marathi Mission
American Missionary Association
The American Missionary Association was a Protestant-based abolitionist group founded on September 3, 1846 in Albany, New York. The main purpose of this organization was to abolish slavery, to educate African Americans, to promote racial equality, and to promote Christian values...
and Church Mission Society
Church Mission Society
The Church Mission Society, also known as the Church Missionary Society, is a group of evangelistic societies working with the Anglican Communion and Protestant Christians around the world...
, SPG Mission by Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
William Carey
William Carey
William Carey was an English Baptist missionary and a Reformed Baptist minister, known as the "father of modern missions." Carey was one of the founders of the Baptist Missionary Society...
was instrumental in translating the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
into Marathi language
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
. Some American Missionaries like laymen who aided the establishment of the Ahmednagar branch, the chief was Dr. Graham then in medical charge of the Ahmednagar military Hospital, who procured for the mission, free use of the mansion Station known as Tewri Bagh, which was later used as Charitable dispensary called the Poor Asylum. Many People started to Convert from different caste and Religion. On 6th march 1832 the Mansion was organized as an independent church. Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
and other high class Hindus who had converted to Christianity of whom could read and write were employed as Catechist or Bibleman
Bibleman
Bibleman is an American video series with an evangelical superhero character . The series includes videos, books and live shows, where they tour locations around North America.-Bibleman Live:...
. After that the mission opened a boy's and girl's boarding school for Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
& Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Students.
Church Mission Society
Church Mission Society
The Church Mission Society, also known as the Church Missionary Society, is a group of evangelistic societies working with the Anglican Communion and Protestant Christians around the world...
the mission of Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
for Propagating the Gospel was started in 1873, 40 years after the American Marathi mission Started, on the suggestion of the Rev. W. Boswell the chaplain of the area. After which the number of converts gradually increased and during the year 1882 more people were Baptized and Evangelized
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
.
Ahmednagar
Ahmednagar has more number of Christians, majority of them are Protestants & Belongs to different Denominations, Largest Denomination is Church of North IndiaChurch of North India
The Church of North India , the dominant Protestant denomination in northern India, is a united church established on 29 November 1970 by bringing together the main Protestant churches working in northern India...
. The Percentage of Christian Population in Ahmednagar, as recorded in the Census of 1881 in the old Gazetteer, was only 0.64% whereas it went up to 2.49% in 1901 and 2.72% in 1961 and in 2000 it increased to 10%. The followers of the American Marathi Mission found all over the Ahmednagar district except in the south-west. Every village has one or more resident families as Christian and every village has its own church for worship. Most of the people kept their names and surnames, but in naming their children they generally prefer English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n names but some also prefer India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n names. Christians from Ahmednagar form one community and marry only within the district, but Brahmin and other High class Converts are averse from marrying with families who originally were lower castes, Caste system still prominent in local Christian only in subject of marriage. In home, family prayers are done once in a day, who can read, read a passage from the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and hymn sings. The whole community has to attend Church on Sunday, Besides the Sunday meeting they hold prayer meeting
Prayer meeting
A prayer meeting is, as its name describes, a meeting of people for the purpose of prayer as a group. Prayer meetings are normally conducted by one or more members of the clergy....
s on some week day when they pray together and exhort and encourage each other. Significant Marathi Christians are found in Eastern part of Ahemdnagar.
Nasik
Christians Found all over the Nasik who are 0.13 % of the population. The only Christian village is Sharanpur or the City of Refuge, which was founded by the Rev. W.S. Price of the Church Mission SocietyChurch Mission Society
The Church Mission Society, also known as the Church Missionary Society, is a group of evangelistic societies working with the Anglican Communion and Protestant Christians around the world...
in 1854. After setting a Missionary Home in 1879, some people from different religion like Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
, Kunbi
Kunbi
Kunbi is a generic term applied to castes of traditionally non-elite tillers in Western India. These include the Dhonoje, Ghatole, Hindre, Jadav, Jhare, Khaire, Lewa , Lonari and Tirole communities of Vidharbha. The communities are largely found in the state of Maharashtra but also exist in the...
, Goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
and Many from Lower caste baptized. In Connection with Sharanpur an asylum which was started in Bombay in 1853, of freed African Slaves was established in 1860 at the expense of Government, between 1874 many African were received and taught to read and write Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
and English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1874 the Asylum was broken up, and the inmates were sent back to their native country for form a Christian village at Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
.
Pune
According to the 1951 Census the Christian Population of the district was 37,243 which includes Europeans, Anglo-IndianAnglo-Indian
Anglo-Indians are people who have mixed Indian and British ancestry, or people of British descent born or living in India, now mainly historical in the latter sense. British residents in India used the term "Eurasians" for people of mixed European and Indian descent...
, and Roman Catholics and Protestants. However owing to the withdrawal of the Britishers and emigration of Europeans and Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indians are people who have mixed Indian and British ancestry, or people of British descent born or living in India, now mainly historical in the latter sense. British residents in India used the term "Eurasians" for people of mixed European and Indian descent...
, the Christian Community in the district is now almost Indian, and governed to a great extent by Indian priest and Pastors. of Roman Catholics, about one-half are of Goan origin, the first batch of Goan Christians are said to have come to Poona to join as gunners in the Maratha army
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
, they were given a plot of land to build their quarters in khadak. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pune is a diocese located in the city of Pune. And Church of North India
Church of North India
The Church of North India , the dominant Protestant denomination in northern India, is a united church established on 29 November 1970 by bringing together the main Protestant churches working in northern India...
Diocese also located in Pune. Christians live mostly in pune city, but there are small colonies of them, mostly employed in the railway.
Christianity arrived in the 18th century when the British took over the area From the Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
, at that time American missionary were First to start Evangelize the local people.
There are several Churches in Pune
Protestant Churches
- The Holy name Churches,
- St. Paul Church
- The Church Of St. Mary the Virgin.
Roman Catholic Churches
- St. Patrick Cathedral
- St. Francis Xaviers
- St. Anne
- Immaculate Conveption
The Vineyard is most popular place in Dapoli
Dapoli
Dapoli is a small town in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra in India.-Geography:Dapoli is 215 KM away from Mumbai.It is also called the "Mini Mahabaleshwar" because of its cool climate throughout the year.dapoli is also the city which gave birth to many historic idols like Lokmanya Tilak, Sane...
Near Pune for Christian worship. Many people from different religion comes to attend prayer meeting
Prayer meeting
A prayer meeting is, as its name describes, a meeting of people for the purpose of prayer as a group. Prayer meetings are normally conducted by one or more members of the clergy....
s in Vineyard.
The Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission at Kedgaon is well known for the Pioneer work for the emanicipation of Hindu widows.
Solapur
Solapur Christians some are Migrants from Goa and Manglore and some Native who are mostly Evangelized of the American Marathi Mission. The mission began its work in 1862. Missionaries preached to the many people and many converts are found from Brahaman, higher class and lower casts. They do not differ in food, and culture from Ahmednagar Christians. There is close connectin between solapur and Ahmednagar Christians.Yavatmal
The American Free Methodist church maintains missions at,Yavatmal, Wun(now Wani),Umri (Christian Hospital),Rajur (Now Rajur Colliery) and Darwah, Many Converts are from Lower caste but include other caste like BrahmanBrahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
, and other high castes.
Culture
There are similarities of customs and culture between HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s and Marathi Christians, such as dress, food and cuisine. The Hindu custom of wearing a mangalsutra
Mangalsutra
A Mangalsutra is a symbol of Hindu marriage union in South Asia. It is a sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by women as a symbol of their marriage...
and placing bindis
Bindi (decoration)
A bindi is a forehead decoration worn in South Asia . and Southeast Asia...
is still prominent among native Christians. Putting turmeric on bride and bride groom's body before day of marriage which is Hindu custom still followed by Marathi Christians. Other religious traditions are much the same as elsewhere.
In Maharashtra, the great Marathi poet Narayan Wamanrao Tilak
Narayan Wamanrao Tilak
Narayan Vaman Tilak was a Marathi poet from Maharashtra, India.Tilak was born on 1861 in a Hindu family in the village of Karajhgaon in Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra....
realised that a Hindu-Christian synthesis was simply not possible unless the Christian religion had deep roots in the Indian culture. He trained the Marathi Christians to worship and sing Bhajans and Kirtans. He showed Christian faith in a genuinely Indian way.
Festival
HaregaonHaregaon
Haregaon is a village in Shrirampur, Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra, India. It is approximately 5 k.m. from Shrirampur city on altitude.-History:...
village in Shrirampur
Shrirampur
Shrirampur is a city and a municipal council in Ahmadnagar district in the Indian state of Maharashtra situated at 19.62 N, 74.66 E in western Maharashtra.- History :...
taluka of Ahmednagar district, it is set to receive thousands of devotees on the occasion of the annual 'yatra' (feast) of the 'Matmauli', the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 7 & 8. Haregaon is often described as the pandharpur
Pandharpur
Pandharpur is an important pilgrimage city on the Bhimā river in Solāpur district, Maharashtra, India. The Vithoba temple attracts about half a million Hindu pilgrims during the major yātrā in the month of Ashadh ....
of the Marathi-speaking Catholics in the state as nearly four lakh devotees from Ahmednagar, Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Nasik, Aurangabad districts and Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
attend the 'Matmauli yatra' every year to celebrate the birthday of the mother of Jesus Christ. The Jesuit priests in the small village had started the feast in 1949.
Famous Marathi Christians
- Vijay HazareVijay HazareVijay Samuel Hazare was an Indian cricket player from the state of Maharashtra. He captained the Indian cricket team in 14 matches between 1951 and 1953...
was an Indian cricket player. Vijay Samuel Hazare was a Marathi Christian from Solapur district. He captained the Indian cricket team in 14 matches between 1951 and 1953. Vijay Hazare also captioned Baroda and Baroda won the Ranji trophy in 1959 under his helm. Vijay Hazare is considered by many to be one of the best middle-order bats to play for India.
- Chandu BordeChandu BordeChandrakant Gulabrao "Chandu" Borde born 21 July 1934 in Poona In Marathi Christian Family, is a ex-cricketer who was a member of the Indian team between 1958 and 1970. Following his retirement, Borde became a cricket administrator, serving as the Chairman of national selectors...
is an ex-Indian cricket player. He is a Marathi Christian from Pune district. He played for the Indian cricket team in 83 matches between 1958 and 1969. His younger brother Ramesh Borde who was a noteworthy first-class cricket player.
- Pandita RamabaiPandita RamabaiPandita Ramabai was a social reformer and activist. She was born as Hindu, started Arya Mahila Samaj and later converted to Christianity to serve widows and helpless women of India....
was an eminent Marathi Christian social reformer and activist. She was born as Hindu Brahmin and then evengelised.
- Narayan Wamanrao TilakNarayan Wamanrao TilakNarayan Vaman Tilak was a Marathi poet from Maharashtra, India.Tilak was born on 1861 in a Hindu family in the village of Karajhgaon in Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra....
was a great Marathi poet born in Maharashtra as Brahmin, but later adopted Christianity. He wrote many Christian songs and bhajans in Marathi.
- Shahu ModakShahu ModakShahu Modak was an Indian actor who acted in many Hindi as well as Marathi movies. Shahu Modak was mostly famous for the mythological characters that he played. He mostly played the roles of Lord Krishna and Sant Dyaneshwar.-Personal life:...
, a Marathi/Hindi movie actor, who was born in a Christian family in Ahmednagar. He primarily acted as Lord Krishna in 29 mythological films.
See also
- KupariKupariSamvedi are a sub group of East Indian community. This community is concentrated mostly in Bassein , India, which is about north of Mumbai. Kupari Ancestors were Mixture of Samvedic Brahmins, Goans and Portuguese because of inter marriages between them. The population is about 40,000 to 45,000...
- Marathi peopleMarathi peopleThe Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
- East IndiansIndian peopleIndian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...
- Portuguese IndiaPortuguese IndiaThe Portuguese Viceroyalty of India , later the Portuguese State of India , was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de...
- Christianity in MaharashtraChristianity in MaharashtraChristianity is a minority religion in Maharashtra, a state of India. Most people in Maharashtra are Hindus, Christian adherents being 3% of the population. The Roman Catholic archdiocese whose seat is in Maharastra is Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay...