New Delhi: Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsale, famously known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was born on February 19, 1630. He was the ruler of the Bhonsle dynasty but carved out his own independent kingdom—the Maratha Empire. Shivaji Maharaj is one of the brave rulers who fought against the Mughals.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj festival, also known as Shivaji Jayanti, is a public holiday in Maharashtra. It is observed every February to celebrate the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the first ruler of the Maratha empire.
But did you know that Shivaji Jayanti is observed twice a year? Let us learn more about it.
Why does Maharashtra observe Shivaji Jayanti twice?
In Maharashtra, many people celebrate Shivaji Jayanti, the birth of Chhatrapati Shivaji, a 17th-century Maratha king. There is some disagreement about his birth date. The state officially marks the holiday on February 19 in the Gregorian calendar. However, many Maharashtrians prefer to celebrate the occasion on the third day of Phalgun in the Hindu calendar.
Shivaji was born in the early 1600s to Shahaji Bhonsale, a Maratha army general. Historical records do not agree on his exact birth date. When social reformer Lokmanya Tilak promoted Shivaji Jayanti in the 1890s, it was commonly believed that Shivaji was born on April 6, 1627, which falls in the Hindu month of Chaitra. Other records suggest his birth was in Phalgun on a date that matches February 19, 1630.
The state observes Shivaji Jayanti on February 19. Still, many people in Maharashtra choose to celebrate it on the third day of Phalgun in the Hindu calendar.
In 2000, the state government, led by Congress, set up a committee of historians to determine Shivaji’s birth date. The committee’s findings led the state to declare February 19 as the official Shivaji Jayanti holiday, corresponding to Phalgun vidya Tritiya, the third day of Phalgun.
Kalnirnay, a popular Hindu calendar publisher, provides the same birth dates for Shivaji: February 19 and the third day of Phalgun.
Where was Chhatrapati Shivaji born?
Shivaji Maharaj is one of India’s great national heroes. He established an independent state in Maharashtra that focused on justice, people’s welfare, and respect for all religions. The goals and methods of the Maratha Swaraj under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj influenced India’s political landscape. Over time, his movement became a nationwide struggle that changed India’s political map.
Shivaji Maharaj was born on February 19, 1630, at Shivneri Fort near Junnar in Pune district. His mother, Jijabai, was the daughter of Lakhuji Jadhavrao from Sindkhed. His father, Shahajiraje Bhosale, was an important leader in the Deccan region.
When Shivaji was born, most of Maharashtra was controlled by the Nizamshah of Ahmednagar and the Adilshah of Bijapur. The Konkan coastal area had two main sea powers: the Portuguese and the Siddi. The British and the Dutch also had trading posts along the coast. The Mughals wanted to expand their influence in the South since the time of Emperor Akbar. They launched a campaign to conquer the Nizamshahi Kingdom. The Adilshah of Bijapur joined forces with the Mughals in this effort.
Shahajiraje tried to protect the Nizamshahi but could not fight against the combined strength of the Mughals and the Adilshah. The Nizamshahi kingdom fell in 1636. After that, Shahajiraje became a leader for the Adilshah of Bijapur and was sent to Karnataka.
The Adilshah kept the Pune, Supe, Indapur, and Chakan regions, which were given to Shahajiraje as a jagir. He also received a jagir in Bangalore. Jijabai and Shivaji lived with Shahajiraje in Bangalore until Shivaji turned twelve. Shahajiraje then trusted Shivaji and Jijabai to administer the Pune jagir. Shivaji grew up in the hills and valleys of the Pune region under his mother Jijabai’s guidance.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary (Jayanti) is celebrated twice in Maharashtra. The official date is February 19, as per the Gregorian calendar, coinciding with Phalgun Vadya Tritiya in the Hindu calendar. However, a discrepancy in historical records leads many to observe it on the third day of Phalgun, resulting in dual celebrations. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
