Marathi Diwas 2026

“लाभले आम्हास भाग्य बोलतो मराठी, जाहलो खरेच धन्य ऐकतो मराठी.”

~ DPGA’s Marathi Divas; the birthdate of the great कुसुमाग्रज — a day of pride for Marathi
Friday, 27th February, 2026

Dr Pillai Global Academy, New Panvel

Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Din at Dr. Pillai Global Academy, New Panvel is a culturally significant celebration, where students come together to honour the language, alongside all its artistic and cultural contributions. This day marks the birth of revered Marathi writer, Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, better known as Kusumagraj, who wrote poetry, plays, novels, and short stories revolving around freedom and justice, making his mark on Marathi and Indian literature. Students at DPGA take part in dances, songs, speeches and much more to commemorate Marathi Divas.

As do most cultural fests, Marathi Divas began with the National Anthem, State Song, and School Song — each one representative of collective pride. In regards to the State Song, the unison of voices all singing the same song, one praising and paying homage to Maharashtra, evoked a true sense of patriotism and cultural appreciation of the Marathi language.

Following this, the day’s hosts introduced the audience to the festival and all that it entailed, before proceeding with the lighting of the lamp, lending the event an air of spirituality. Soon after, the chief guest, Mr. Prashant Shedge was introduced along with the guest of honour, our management representative Ms. Mabel Pillai and were felicitated.

Next, and most importantly, the audience was elucidated on the great Kusumagraj, learning about his unforgettable contribution to the Marathi language through his writings. Most notably, he wrote नटसम्राट (Natsamrat), a tragic play, and विशाखा (Vishakha), a collection of poetry. His memorable writings, coupled with the themes he explored — patriotic, revolutionary — quickly transformed him into the voice of a generation, and brought the Marathi language to the forefront of the Freedom Struggle.

Soon after, the Welcome Dance began — representative of the power of the Marathi language to be woven so effortlessly into dance, of how the rhythm of the language lends itself easily to the steps of a dancer. The audience was enthralled by the mastery of the student performers.

Another informative part of the programme was the introduction of the Marathi language: its origin, contributions, and more. The students of DPGA graced the stage with eloquent and detailed speeches, illuminating the significance of this language taken so often for granted by its speakers. The playfulness of the language, its inherent poeticism and rhythm — all of this was soon understood and recognized by the students.

To further highlight the inherent artistry of Marathi, a group song was sung by the students. The music was magnificent, and well performed, and further showcased both the talents of the student performers and the nature of the Marathi language. The elegance and energy of the students was electrifying, and evidently engaged the audience. The beauty of the language was further shown through the कवी संमेलन — a gathering of poets. Student performers presented poems by famous poets, touching on numerous important themes like human resilience, nature, and society at large. Another wonderful artistic performance was a musical drama — मूल्यांची गाथा, or A Saga of Values. Through this musical, students expressed the significance of morality and value systems. To present such a vital topic through the Marathi language reminded the audience of the linguistic uniqueness of Marathi, the power its words have in sending across messages.

As the performances came to a close, the chief guest, Mr. Prashant Shedge enlightened the audience with his thoughts on the day, followed by Ms. Mabel Pillai and the principal, Mr. Prakash Nair. After the usual conclusion and vote of thanks, students gathered to sing हीच आमुची प्रार्थना (This Is Our Prayer) — a song that echoes the very essence of Marathi culture: the importance of humanity.

All in all, Marathi Divas was one of many successful cultural events hosted by DPGA, with special thanks to the Language Department. The audience was captivated by this breakdown and showcase of the Marathi language. As a school, DPGA believes in this: “To develop local actions… to create global options,” that is to say, without the preservation and celebration of local cultures, one cannot enjoy the variety and diversity of the Global Village. To once again translate, and quote a well-known Marathi saying, “मराठी भाषा दिवस: लोकशाही, लोकहित, लोकप्रिय!” (“Marathi Language Day: Democracy, Commonweal, and Cherished.”)

Author: Mugdha Vinod Patil (IBDP 1A)