Answer: Powada is a folk art form of Maharashtra in which the heroic deeds of brave persons are narrated in the form of a ballad.
- Powadas glorify the valour and sacrifice of heroes, narrated by alternately singing verses and speaking prose.
- It is performed by Shahirs (balladeers) to the accompaniment of the daf (tambourine) and tuntune, in a powerful, inspiring style.
- Agrindas composed the ‘Powada of Afzalkhan’s killing’ in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s time; Tulsidas composed a powada on the capture of Sinhagad.
- Later Shahirs like Ram Joshi, Anant Phandi, Honaji Bala and Prabhakar, and in modern times Annabhau Sathe, Amar Shaikh and Shahir Sable, used powadas to awaken the people, especially during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.
- Powadas are an important source of history as they reflect the events and social life of their times.