Shivaji Jayanti 2023
Shivaji Jayanti, celebrated on February 19th every year, is a grand event across Maharashtra. Ask any Indian school kid about the great warriors of the nation, and the name of Shivaji is sure to crop up in the top bracket. Shivaji Bhonsle was born in Shivneri Fort in Maharashtra on February 19th 1630, in the Maratha Bhonsle clan. He showed his fearless warrior traits at a very tender age. He started winning many forts at 17 after fighting several tactical battles against the Bijapur Sultan to carve out his budding empire. He was instrumental in establishing the foundations of the great Maratha Empire in India, which primarily led to the decline of the Mughal Empire in the country.
The stories of his bravery and innovative guerilla tactics to fight and win against an enemy vastly superior to him in resources are part of legends. They have formed part of school textbooks for decades. He established a Hindu Empire, winning territories from the declining Bijapur Sultanate in the South and the powerful Moguls in the north during the reign of Aurangzeb. His actual accession to the throne was in 1674, which ended with his death in 1680. During this period, the British tried to increase their footprint in India by deceit. The Maratha Empire continued to expand and flourish even after his death. It ruled vast parts of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century and was in power until 1818, when the then-king was defeated.
The Shivaji Jayanti celebrations started in 1870 in Pune when Shivaji’s tomb was discovered. Since then, the birthday of the great king, who took on many titles during his lifetime, has been celebrated with great pomp and splendour as Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, mainly in Maharashtra, apart from Goa, Gujarat, and Karnataka to a lesser extent.
Celebrations
February 19th, Shivaji Jayanti, is a public holiday in Maharashtra. It is a day of Maratha pride, and several processions are taken out across the state with people dressed as Shivaji and his foot soldiers. In many places, many plays on Shivaji are enacted to bring out various facets of his life during Shivaji Jayanthi. It is celebrated in all the major cities of Maharashtra, like Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, and Aurangabad. However, Shiv Sena celebrates Shivaji Maharaj Jayanthi on ‘tithi’ as per the Hindu calendar.
Mumbai
In Mumbai, Shivaji Jayanti is significantly celebrated in the famous Shivaji stadium. The State Government organizes the event in the park, where a lovely statue of Chatrapati Shivaji in full battle fatigue on horseback is installed on a high pedestal. The stadium is decorated with beautiful garlands of colourful flowers, and leaders shower petals on the statue from a helicopter to a deafening roar of the assembled crowd. In addition, large contingents of drum beaters from various bands gather at the park to entertain the crowd.
Various cultural activities, like plays based on multiple incidents of the warrior’s life, dance, and music, are arranged in the stadium to entertain the crowd. This festival was organized to remember the exploits of the great king, which united the state and bonded the people together.
The stadium is highly charged and is a sea of colour, with the participants wearing beautiful saffron head turbans. Bunches of balloons in shades of all hues don the sky to the joy of the assembled young kids, giving it a fantastic festival atmosphere. Colourful lighting makes it even more attractive at night time.
Nagpur, Aurangabad, Pune, and other cities also arrange Shivaji Jayanti celebrations on a lower local scale at the local level. Several MSRTC buses are available to Shivaji Jayanti venues in Maharashtra. The dignitaries participate in the events organized by the local municipalities in which many people participate. This is to remember the king, and his heroic deeds, enjoy the day and spread the message of patriotism, valour, courage, and sacrifice for the motherland. Local school children take part in a display of their drumming skills, much to the joy of parents and spectators.
Apart from the government-organized festivities, many local organizations will also celebrate the Shiv Jayanti 2022 to commemorate the birthday. Shiv Sena, the major regional party in Maharashtra and a partner in the present coalition government, usually celebrates the Shivaji Jayanti according to the Hindu almanack based on the birth star of the emperor. The Shiv Jayanti 2022 is on February 19th of this year, per the tithi calculations. So you can look forward to grand celebrations on this day in Shivaji Park in Mumbai and other cities across Maharashtra.
Overall, you can have a thrilling time by taking a vacation to Maharashtra to participate in the exciting Shiv Jayanthi 2022 festive celebrations. You can get the best out of the vacation by reposing trust, building a partnership with www.redbus.in, and ensuring convenient travel and hotel bookings for intelligent savings and a memorable experience.
