"The Evolution of Varkari Kirtan in Maharashtra: A Historical, Institutional and Digital Perspective."

Abstract Varkari Kirtan represents an important component of Maharashtra’s devotional, literary and cultural traditions. Over a long historical period, it has functioned not only as a medium of devotional expression but also as a means of transmitting cultural values, collective memory and vernacular knowledge. The Varkari tradition has developed through the contributions of saint-poets and through practices of devotional poetry, performance and community participation. Scholarly studies identify the Varkari tradition as a long-standing religious and socio-cultural phenomenon associated with Maharashtra’s regional cultural formation. The present study examines the evolution of Varkari Kirtan in Maharashtra from historical, institutional and digital perspectives. It traces the development of Kirtan within the broader Varkari tradition and considers the changing mechanisms through which its knowledge and practices have been transmitted across generations. The study further examines the changing institutional context surrounding the preservation, organisation and dissemination of Varkari Kirtan. In the contemporary period, digital technologies have created new possibilities for recording, accessing and sharing Kirtan performances beyond their traditional geographical settings. The paper therefore focuses on the relationship between continuity and change in Varkari Kirtan. It considers how traditional cultural practices interact with institutional structures and emerging digital environments while examining the opportunities and challenges associated with cultural preservation, authenticity and wider accessibility. The study contributes to an understanding of Varkari Kirtan as a living cultural practice that continues to adapt to changing social and technological contexts.