Shivaji Jayanti is a festival and public holiday celebrated in the Indian state of Maharashtra to honor the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire. The exact date of his birth is disputed, but it generally falls between February and March. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm, including processions that depict Shivaji’s life and achievements.
On 10th March, Maharashtra celebrated Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti. Just like every year, people of Maharashtra celebrated Shivaji Jayanti with full energy and joy. Our news team came across an event organized in Magathane, Mumbai.
The event was organized by Magathane Shiv Smarak samiti in Borivali (East), Mumbai. The event began at 9 am, it was a normal and simple event. However, we noticed lots of devotion and energy in that same simple event. The event was organized by Kiran Pandhari on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti, the event was about paying tributes to Indian ruler and leader of Maratha empire Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Local organizers paid tribute to the idol of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj near Tata powerhouse, Magathane, Borivali (East) in Mumbai. They paid tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by organizing a Pooja to remember the great works done by the leader of Maratha empire for the people of Maharashtra as well as people of India. According to the people who organized the event, the idol of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was inaugurated by Balasaheb Thackeray, founder of Shiv Sena party.
Our news team got to interview Adhyaksh, Pratik Chauhan. In an interview we asked him many questions regarding the event, he said, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti is celebrated as per the date every year, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of Hindu Swaraj. The Swaraj he founded was for Hindu religion, he saved many temples during the Mughal era. That’s why we celebrate Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj jayanti every year”.
Later in the Interview he said, “we have been organizing this event for 15 years” pointing out at the great devotion they have towards the founder of Maratha empire.
Further in the interview, we asked Pratik Chauhan about the vandalism of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s portrait in JNU that occurred on 19th February. In reply to our question about the incident in JNU, he said “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a warrior, he has done many things for Hindu religion. The Hindu Swaraj which he founded even reached Delhi. JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) isn’t that old, i don’t know what happened there and i am not interested to know about it but what happened in JNU was wrong and i strongly oppose it”.
Pratik Chauhan strongly opposed the events which occurred in JNU and strongly criticized it.
Later we got to interview Kiran Pendhari the person who organized the event. In an interview Kiran Pendhari said, “We have been organizing this event for 15 years, we have been doing such things since our childhood”, pointing out his cultural pride and his devotion to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “We have never made our event political; we don’t ask for money or donations from anyone. We will do whatever we can to organize this event”, he added.
Further in the interview, he said “Anyone can celebrate Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, this festival is not only for Marathi people because the army of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj even included Muslims and other several people from different castes. Anyone who lives in Maharashtra can celebrate this event” trashing the people who politicize Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti.
In the event, our media team even came across several women who attended the event. Just like men, they were filled with energy and joy.
