प्रतिपच्चंद्रलेखेव वर्धिष्णुर्विश्ववन्दिता।
शाहसुनो शिवस्यैषा मुद्रा भद्राय राजते॥
Today marks the 343rd auspicious birthday of the great Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He is known for his courageous deeds and brave actions in facing various difficult situations while establishing ‘Swaraj’. Maharashtra celebrates this day with immense zeal and fervour. Various parts of the Maharashtra including Pune, Mumbai, Solapur etc are set to celebrate this day on a large scale! The 
aim of the day is to honour the great warrior’s role in restoring the Maratha Empire and to celebrate his vast legacy. Let’s feel alive with these coming beats of Dhol Taasha, Keertans and Powadas from Maharashtra!
This year, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary will be celebrated in Dewan-e-Aam at Agra Fort. Thousands of his followers are gathering for the Shiv Jayanti Festival organized by Vinod Patil’s Ajinkya Devagiri Foundation and RR Patil Foundation. A special train of activists has left Aurangabad for this special event. The Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Phadnavis will offer the cradle of Shivaji Maharaj which is also called ‘ShivSanmana’. Many ministers and leaders of the cabinet will be present. The program will start at 9.30 am. On this occasion, many Shiva lovers from across the state will enter Shivneri.
The celebration of Shiv Jayanti was set by Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, also known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, in 1870, and since then, people have been celebrating the day with great zeal. Various Artists showcase their talents like playing with weapons, singing Powadas and keertans and dancing to the beats of Dhol Pathaks!
MORE ABOUT CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ:-
Shivaji Maharaj was born in 1630 in Pune’s Shivneri Fort. He didn’t only construct a well-structured administrative organisation but also made a liberal civil rule for people living in the area. He was engaged in both alliances and hostilities with the Mughal Empire, the Sultanate of Golkonda, the Sultanate of Bijapur and the European colonial powers. Shivaji’s military forces expanded the Maratha sphere of influence, capturing and building forts, and forming a Maratha navy.
FACTS REGARDING CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ:-
1. Known as the Father of the Indian Navy, Shivaji was the first to realise the importance of having a naval force, and therefore he strategically established a navy and forts at the coastline to defend the Konkan side of Maharashtra.
2. The Jaigad, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and other such forts still stand to testify his efforts and ideas.
3 The secular ruler was very accommodating of all religions.
4. He had numerous Muslim soldiers in his army. His only aim was to overthrow Mughal rule and establish the Maratha empire.
