Bharud is an important folk art of Maharashtra, based on ancient poetic texts composed
mostly by Sant Eknath. Bharud songs are dramatic narratives metaphorically addressing
various facets of human existence and the path to the Divine. Traditionally it is performed
in two ways, as a devotional song or bhajan and also as an enacted dance form by the
Gondhali community, in praise of their Devis and Devatas. Bharuds are performed mainly
on the Ashada Ekadashi, and Pandharpur is an important Centre. The practitioners are
primarily devotees of Sri Krishna.

The performers Mahadev Buva Shahabajkar and party live in Shahbaj Village, Belapur
and belong to the Varkari tradition of Maharashtra. They are very well known all over
Maharashtra for their performances of Abhang, Varkari and Bharud. They have a large
repertoire of devotional songs of the great Bhakti saints like Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram,
Eknath and more. Mahadev Buva was born into the Koli fisherman community of
Maharashtra and holds a prominent status amongst his people.