Povada is a kind of Marathi ballad that describes the heroic deeds by great kings. Its origins lie in Vedic literature. It can be explained as the Aittariya Brahmana contains songs in praise of Indra. Povada is similar to Birmal sung by Charan Bhats in Rajasthan. Probably, it came with them when they migrated from the north and settled down in Maharashtra during Shivaji`s time. The earliest Povadas belong to the sixteenth century. The famed Agindas composed Povadas on thrilling incidents from Shivaji`s life. The word may also be associated with the pavad ritual in which devotees of Khandoba break iron chains inspired by love of God.

The Povada is essentially a narrative tale, composed in 4 to 40 chauk i.e. stanzas of three or four lines. The presenter dresses in angarakha or long and loose upper garment and salwar with a cummerbund. The presenter also wears a tall kanganidar pagri orpheta or turban on his head and carries the halgi or daph i.e. tambourine, which he plays. He is the coordinating force, acts as the hero, and also narrates as the sutradhara. His companions, called jhilkari, play the minor characters and provide musical, vocal, and instrumental support. The Povada begins with the gana, a prayer-song invoking the god Ganesha. The narration proceeds in poetry and prose, and the jhilkaris join in the refrain or repeat certain lines, and also offer appropriate responses.

The language is simple, sometimes uncouth, but the rhythms are very fast and vigorous. The instruments that are used can be mentioned as dholak, dimdi or small drum, daph, and the stringed tuntune that they invariably excite. Povadas evoke various rasas namely heroic, erotic, pathetic, and devotional. These generally take place in a Lalit or Tamasha. Sometimes Shahirs or folk poets enact them independently at festivals. Various communities, including Muslims, compose and perform them, though normally Gondhalis i.e. Gondhal performers, Vaghyas i.e. male worshippers of Khandoba, and Shahirs specialize in their singing. Social and political events are now included as subject matter.