Maharashtra, one of the largest and most populous states of India, demonstrates an array of costumes, suiting the purpose of any occasion, as well as weather conditions. The climate of Maharashtra is moderately tropical and dry. Thus, cotton costume gives a feeling of comfort to any denizen Of Maharashtra, all through the year.

The traditional costume of women in Maharashtra is a nine-yard long saree, called Nauvari. This saree resembles male trousers. This specific style of draping does not require a petticoat or a slip beneath it. The Nauvari saree has a historical background. During the Maratha rule, women were entrusted with the grave responsibility of helping their male partners, at emergency period of wars. To facilitate easy movement, the Maharashtrian women then introduced the Nauvari Saree.

Thus, such a costume reminds of the caliber of women to equal men even in difficult art of warfare.The fabric is usually cotton, and for special occasions, silk tops the priority list. Paithani sarees happen to be the treasured creation of Maharashtra`s textile-industry. The Paithani saree, invested with an 18 inch to 25 inch pallu, owes its origin to adept textile-designing. The Brahmin ladies of Maharashtra wear sarees in a particular pattern where the pleats are located at or near the back and these are tucked in waist and the decked part of the saree is left open on the shoulder part. They use choli with the sarees and often polkas and blouses.

The Maharashtrian women prefer to deck themselves in beautiful jewelleries. Most of the designs of the jewelleries are of Peshwa and Maratha style. Among the most favoured jewelleries are the haar, nath or nose ring decorated with pearl or vibrant coloured stones. Some of the necklaces they wear include bangdya, Kolhapuri Saaj, tode and patlya.

Silk is woven to constitute the body of the royal Paithani silks. And into this rich silk texture, pure Jari-made of gold and silver threads, are interwoven, to give the Saree the ornamented get-up. The bright Paithani sarees are very popular as the bridal costume in Maharashtra. The Paithani sarees, are thus intrinsically linked to the culture and society of Maharashtra. The sarees have received their name after the place of its origin, Paithan in Maharashtra, like that of Kanchipuram silk of Kanchipuram in Karnataka, or most other celebrated textiles of India. The other weaving-sites of this exclusive item are Yeola, Pune, Nasik and Malegaon in Maharashtra.

The pride of Maharashtra textile-crafts, Paithani find the mention of its golden woven fabric in the venerated and core text of Hinduism and Indian civilization, the Rig Vedas. Even, the Greek scriptures, discuss about the Paithani sarees, in the context of the ancient trading and industrial enterprises. It is said these Paithani sarees were expectedly the imperial choice. The Peshwas in the 18th century Maharashtra, harbored obsession for these prized garments.

The men of Maharashtra uphold Dhoti as their cultural heritage. It may be worn along with a shirt or kurta, and Dhoti is often substituted with trousers. They also wear `bandi` over the shirt and turban called `pheta` and `pagadi`. The festive occasions of the Maharashtrians allow themselves to indulge in the festive mood and during this time most of the men wear Churidar Pyjama, Ackan or Survar.

In the urban areas of Maharashtra, and especially in its cosmopolitan capital, Mumbai, costumes display themselves in their variety best. Women put in Kurta-Pajamas, salwar-kameez, skirt-blouse, jeans-trousers, exotic and mind-blowing Sarees and so on. The hep Mumbai men on the other hand, flaunt themselves with the halo of grooming. They shift from wearing jeans, trousers, branded shirts, baggy trousers, T-shirts, all possible types of casual wears. On occasions, sherwanis, kurta-pajamas, ornate Dhotis, and other kinds of resplendent men`s attire, rank among their favorites. Indeed, Mumbai the glam-epicenter of India, and the abode of Bollywood, is the trendsetter for costumes, for the whole of India. Fashion experiences its high, in the posh cities of Maharashtra, with fashion-designing institutes and business units, establishing their sway.

The state of Maharashtra, hence has achieved a splendid synthesis of the old and the new patterns in costume. Time and the effect of globalization have brought a drastic change in the costumes of each and every state and Maharashtra as well. Though the modernisation has a great impact in the society, the tradition has not faded its glitter, thus the traditional dresses have not lost the glory of past. It has also focused the traditional and regional textile-accomplishments like Paithani as the in-thing now.