Maratha

The Maratha are a large community in western India, with more than 45 million people. They live mainly in the state of Maharashtra, home to cities such as Mumbai and Pune, and speak Marathi, the official language of that state. Traditionally they were warriors and landowners, and most families still have roots in the countryside, growing sugarcane, cotton and grains.

The Maratha take great pride in their history. In the 17th century, the leader Shivaji founded a Maratha kingdom that stood up to the powerful Mughal Empire, which ruled much of India, and he is remembered to this day as a hero throughout the state. Many Maratha play an important role in the politics, army and agriculture of Maharashtra. Some have moved to other regions of India and to countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, without losing their ties to their homeland.

Almost all are Hindu. Devotion to gods such as Ganesha, Vitthal and Khandoba shapes the calendar, with festivals and pilgrimages that gather crowds. There are churches in Maharashtra, but there are almost no followers of Jesus among the Maratha.