<p>The anti-North India rant by certain quarters in Mumbai, often unsuccessfully espoused in the name of the “Marathi Manoos,” appeared a misnomer on Friday when hundreds of Marathi litterateurs and politicians descended at Ghuman in Punjab to showcase the spiritual connection between the two states.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The otherwise sleepy village, about 50 km from Amritsar, wore a festive look on Friday as it marked the beginning of the 88th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (Marathi literary fest), organised for the first time in Punjab.<br /><br />The selection of Ghuman in the Gurdaspur district epitomises the essence of the event. Renowned 12th-century Saint Namdev from Maharashtra spent 20 years spreading the message of peace and brotherhood here. He is believed to have founded Ghuman. <br /><br />The village has a sizeable number of Saint Namdev worshippers. At least five Sikh shrines here have his imprints. The sacred Guru Granth Sahib also has a chapter on “Namdev ji ki Mukhbani”. But it’s a Marathi literary festival, and so the effort is to offer a glimpse of Marathi literary heritage to an unfamiliar audience. <br /><br />Union minister Nitin Gadkari, former Union minister Sharad Pawar, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and several other dignitaries were present at the event. <br /></p>
<p>The anti-North India rant by certain quarters in Mumbai, often unsuccessfully espoused in the name of the “Marathi Manoos,” appeared a misnomer on Friday when hundreds of Marathi litterateurs and politicians descended at Ghuman in Punjab to showcase the spiritual connection between the two states.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The otherwise sleepy village, about 50 km from Amritsar, wore a festive look on Friday as it marked the beginning of the 88th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (Marathi literary fest), organised for the first time in Punjab.<br /><br />The selection of Ghuman in the Gurdaspur district epitomises the essence of the event. Renowned 12th-century Saint Namdev from Maharashtra spent 20 years spreading the message of peace and brotherhood here. He is believed to have founded Ghuman. <br /><br />The village has a sizeable number of Saint Namdev worshippers. At least five Sikh shrines here have his imprints. The sacred Guru Granth Sahib also has a chapter on “Namdev ji ki Mukhbani”. But it’s a Marathi literary festival, and so the effort is to offer a glimpse of Marathi literary heritage to an unfamiliar audience. <br /><br />Union minister Nitin Gadkari, former Union minister Sharad Pawar, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and several other dignitaries were present at the event. <br /></p>
