Archive · 29 Jul 2026
Maharashtra's Ovi Tradition: Women's Songs of Resilience
In rural Maharashtra, women have a special tradition called Ovi.
These are songs they sing while grinding grain on a stone mill called a jaat.
The songs have been passed down for generations and are a way for women to express their feelings and tell their stories.
The songs talk about their lives, their struggles, and their hopes.
Even though the world has changed and many women now use electric mills, the Ovi tradition is still important.
People are working to keep these songs alive by recording them and performing them in concerts.
The songs are a reminder of the strength and resilience of women in Maharashtra.
Ovi songs are traditional grindmill songs sung by Maharashtrian women while working at the jaat.
These songs have been passed down for centuries and serve as a form of emotional expression and catharsis.
The Ovi tradition is distinct from other folk music forms as it is private and performed without an audience.
Efforts have been made to preserve and popularize Ovi songs, including documentation and concert performances.
Bahinabai Chaudhari, an unlettered poet, is a notable figure in the Ovi tradition, known for her profound verses.
- Who
- Rural women of Maharashtra, particularly those who sing Ovi songs.
- What
- The tradition of Ovi songs, which are sung while grinding grain at the jaat.
- When
- The tradition has been passed down for centuries and continues to this day.
- Where
- Rural Maharashtra, specifically in the context of domestic work.
- Why
- Ovi songs serve as a form of emotional expression, catharsis, and a means of preserving female resilience and history.
Traditionalists
Modernists
Preservation of Tradition
Traditionalists
The Ovi tradition should be preserved exactly as it was, with women singing at the grindmill to maintain its authenticity.
Modernists
The Ovi tradition should evolve with modern times, incorporating new technologies and performance styles to reach a wider audience.
- Ovi
- Traditional grindmill songs of Maharashtrian women.
- Jaat
- Twin-layered stone mill used for grinding grain.
- Bahinabai Chaudhari
- Legendary unlettered poet who composed verses in the Khandeshi dialect.
- Hema Rairkar
- Activist who documented over 110,000 Ovi songs across 1,107 villages.
- Rahul Deshpande
- Classical and devotional vocalist who emphasizes the authenticity of Ovi songs.
- Mahesh Kale
- Renowned maestro who highlights the musical practice inherent in Ovi singing.