Ahirani Lokgeet Singers

Ahirani Lokgeet are vibrant folk songs of the Ahirani‑speaking communities of Khandesh and North Maharashtra, deeply woven into rural rituals and daily life. These songs are traditionally sung during harvest celebrations, weddings, festivals and seasonal gatherings, reflecting the joys and struggles of agrarian life. Their lyrical patterns often feature simple, repetitive refrains and call‑and‑response verses that make them easy for groups to sing together, and the themes typically revolve around love, nature, and social customs.

In cultural rituals such as pre‑wedding ceremonies, women sing while working together, their voices rising and falling with rhythmic claps and local percussion — a practice that strengthens social bonds and keeps oral traditions alive. Dressed in colorful traditional attire, female performers often wear nauvari sarees, silver jewelry and floral adornments, while male singers sport dhotis and embroidered kurtas that reflect rural aesthetics.

Prominent Ahirani Lokgeet singers include Nisha Bhagat, Ranganath Sathe, Janardan Sathe, Damodar Shirwale (featured on Ahirani Wa Khandeshi Lokgeete), Ashok Jadhav (known for Bhilin Bai Kamlata and Dehati Lokgeet Ahirani), Pulkeshi Kedar, and the late Naval Mali, famed for hits like Sali Number 1.