Maratha Empire: Does it have contribution to India in terms of architecture or food?

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

Was just going down a Wikipedia rabbit hole:

Curious to learn from our resident Indians. I just found out that Mumbai was actually largely built by the British. In terms of great architecture it was largely built by British, Mughals and even Sikhs surprisingly.

Also I always thought that Maharashtra area today was ruled by Hindu empires largely and Aurangzeb wanted to take over but turns out that post 1300 pretty much several Muslim empires including Delhi sultanate, sultanate of gujrat, Bahmani, faruqi sultanates, Ahmadnagar empire ruled over this area.

In fact the peak of the Marathas lasted barely a century and they never really consolidated since either they were fighting Mughals, British of Abdali. Perhaps that’s why they never really got to contribute much in terms of architecture and culture?

 

[LongHorn]

In terms of food, outside India it is common to see South Indian veg/Chettinad/Gujurati/Mughlai/Bengali/Punjabi, and even Rajasthani themed food outlets, but never seen a Marathi food restaurant, must be a reason for that

 

[NishanKonar]

The Maratha queen Ahilya Bai was famous for building many temples during her time but in North India not Maharashtra. The Marathas were spread all over Central & North India during their peak years. Like Ahilya Bai built the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi - which is now one of the holiest places for Hindus

There was also the magnificent palace named Shaaniwar Wada in Pune - but it was destroyed by fire in the 19th century and today only ruins remain. British writers often mentioned its amazing architecture and compared it with Taj Mahal

Similarly Marathas built big palaces in places like Baroda , Gwalior, Indore and other places across India. The Gwalior Fort is one of the biggest in India - like Red Fort in Delhi

Regarding culture - Marathas restored HIndus to primacy status in North India after centuries of Muslim rule. Delhi SUltans and Mughals captured holy towns & destroyed many temples during their rule. Marathas freed holy towns like Varanasi , Mathura, Vrindavan , Ujjain from Mughal rule and built lots of temples and brought them back to Hindu fold. The revival of Hindu society and culture in North India owes lot to Marathas

Today Narendra Modi fights elections from Varanasi and offers prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple - remember that temple was built by the Marathas

ps : The word Hindu was actually popularized by the Marathas. Earlier Hindu rulers never refereed to themselves as Hindu. They called themselves by caste like Rajput, Jats, Chandelas. It was Marathas who first used Hindu for all communities who followed vedanta. They first proposed the concept of Hindu Padshahi ( Hindu Rule in India ). They played big role in creating this pan India Hindu identity thate xists in india today

 

[NishanKonar]

In terms of food, outside India it is common to see South Indian veg/Chettinad/Gujurati/Mughlai/Bengali/Punjabi, and even Rajasthani themed food outlets, but never seen a Marathi food restaurant, must be a reason for that

Marathi diaspora is much smaller - compared to Gujjus, Punjabis , South Indians. That's why

Marathi people generally don't move outside Maharashtra for jobs or education

ps: Vada Pav and Pav Bhaji are 2 very popular snacks in India whihc originated from Maharashtra

 

[Hitman]

Marathi diaspora is much smaller - compared to Gujjus, Punjabis , South Indians. That's why

Marathi people generally don't move outside Maharashtra for jobs or education

ps: Vada Pav and Pav Bhaji are 2 very popular snacks in India whihc originated from Maharashtra

On another note, love Pav Bhaji. Unfortunately, haven't ever tried Vada Pav.

 

[LongHorn]

Marathi diaspora is much smaller - compared to Gujjus, Punjabis , South Indians. That's why

Marathi people generally don't move outside Maharashtra for jobs or education

ps: Vada Pav and Pav Bhaji are 2 very popular snacks in India whihc originated from Maharashtra

That could be a reason, but then you dont find many Rajasthanis outside as well. In my decades in UAE and the US met quite a few people from Pune and Mumbai but only 1 or 2 from Rajasthan. But I have eated Daal Bati Churma and Laal Maas few times in their restaurants

One thing though, there are some Mumbai themed eateries in Dubai and some places of US which serve those items you mentioned and others. It is just that they are themed after Mumbai, not Marathi

 

[liam26]

That could be a reason, but then you dont find many Rajasthanis outside as well. In my decades in UAE and the US met quite a few people from Pune and Mumbai but only 1 or 2 from Rajasthan. But I have eated Daal Bati Churma and Laal Maas few times in their restaurants

One thing though, there are some Mumbai themed eateries in Dubai and some places of US which serve those items you mentioned and others. It is just that they are themed after Mumbai, not Marathi

Rajasthani people actually travel to all parts of India for business purposes, even to the remotest parts of India you will find them unlike Marathis who are not entrepreneur types, working/Nokri class people and thus stay within Maharashtra/Mumbai.

Also, Mumbai is not Marathi. It doesn't have the cultural hegemony of Marathi people unlike Madras where Madrasis are dominant, or Bengali in Bengal or Kannadigas in Banglore.

 

[NishanKonar]

That could be a reason, but then you dont find many Rajasthanis outside as well. In my decades in UAE and the US met quite a few people from Pune and Mumbai but only 1 or 2 from Rajasthan. But I have eated Daal Bati Churma and Laal Maas few times in their restaurants

One thing though, there are some Mumbai themed eateries in Dubai and some places of US which serve those items you mentioned and others. It is just that they are themed after Mumbai, not Marathi

Marwaris from Rajasthan are pretty big diaspora. also they have cultural similarities with Banias from other states like UP / MP / Gujarat. Thus Rajasthani food is pretty popular across North India and overseas - especially for vegetarian people

In India & overseas for vegetarian folks - Rajasthani cuisine is most popular. Just like how Mughlai / Punjabi cuisine is favorite for non vegetarian folks

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The Maratha queen Ahilya Bai was famous for building many temples during her time but in North India not Maharashtra. The Marathas were spread all over Central & North India during their peak years. Like Ahilya Bai built the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi - which is now one of the holiest places for Hindus

There was also the magnificent palace named Shaaniwar Wada in Pune - but it was destroyed by fire in the 19th century and today only ruins remain. British writers often mentioned its amazing architecture and compared it with Taj Mahal

Similarly Marathas built big palaces in places like Baroda , Gwalior, Indore and other places across India. The Gwalior Fort is one of the biggest in India - like Red Fort in Delhi

Regarding culture - Marathas restored HIndus to primacy status in North India after centuries of Muslim rule. Delhi SUltans and Mughals captured holy towns & destroyed many temples during their rule. Marathas freed holy towns like Varanasi , Mathura, Vrindavan , Ujjain from Mughal rule and built lots of temples and brought them back to Hindu fold. The revival of Hindu society and culture in North India owes lot to Marathas

Today Narendra Modi fights elections from Varanasi and offers prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple - remember that temple was built by the Marathas

ps : The word Hindu was actually popularized by the Marathas. Earlier Hindu rulers never refereed to themselves as Hindu. They called themselves by caste like Rajput, Jats, Chandelas. It was Marathas who first used Hindu for all communities who followed vedanta. They first proposed the concept of Hindu Padshahi ( Hindu Rule in India ). They played big role in creating this pan India Hindu identity thate xists in india today

No one has a clue about Marata empire outisde of India, most people in Britain don't even know how to spell it.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Marathi nonveg cuisine is spicy and very good.

 

[NishanKonar]

No one has a clue about Marata empire outisde of India, most people in Britain don't even know how to spell it.

Why on earth will British know anything about Marathas or Cholas or Sikhs or Rajputs ?

Its like expecting Indians to know about Windsors or Tudors or Queen Victoria ! Most of us dont know anything expect very rudimentary stuff

 

[NishanKonar]

Marathi nonveg cuisine is spicy and very good.

Yes but Marathi cuisine is barely known outside Maharashtra - largely bcoz the community is very insular

I grew up in Bengal but knew someone from every major state in India - except for Marathi people.