The 350th anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was celebrated with great fervour at Maharashtra’s Raigad Fort. The state’s Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accompanied by Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, participated in the festivities. The Chief Minister affirmed his government’s commitment to the Maratha warrior king’s ideals, focusing particularly on the welfare of farmers and women.
On June 6, 1674, according to the Gregorian calendar, Shivaji Maharaj laid the foundation for “Hindavi Swaraj” or self-rule of Hindus at the Raigad Fort, marking his coronation. This year, the anniversary of his coronation is celebrated on June 2nd according to the Hindu calendar.
Festivities included traditional rituals, a state police band playing Maharashtra’s state song, and flower petals showered on the statue of Shivaji Maharaj from a helicopter. Culture Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar performed the ‘jalabhishek’ ritual, using water collected from rivers across Maharashtra.
The week-long celebrations organised by the state government were attended by descendants of the legendary Maratha warrior king, besides the general public. Shinde and Fadnavis extended their greetings on the 350th anniversary of “Shivrajyaabhishek”.
On this occasion, CM Shinde announced the establishment of the Pratapgarh Authority, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Udayanraje Bhosale, a direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a video message, lauded the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a source of inspiration, highlighting the continued relevance of his policies and governance systems. Modi called for the vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ to be inspired by the ideals and bravery of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who ended the mindset of slavery and championed self-governance.
Taking a leaf from Shivaji Maharaj’s book, Modi underscored that the Indian Navy was freed from the vestiges of slavery and the British rule was replaced with Shivaji Maharaj’s royal seal. He said, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj not only fought the invaders but also infused a belief in the people that self-rule was possible”.
The Prime Minister asserted that the values laid down by Shivaji Maharaj continue to illuminate India’s path. He stated, “Based on these values, we have to complete the journey of 25 years of Amrit Kaal. This journey will be to make the India of Shivaji Maharaj’s dreams… This will be the journey of Swaraj, good governance and self-reliance… This will be the journey of a developed India”.
