In the presence of the state’s chief minister, Eknath Shinde, and his deputy, Devendra Fadnavis, ceremonies for the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation got underway at the Raigad fort in Maharashtra on Friday morning.

According to the Gregorian calendar, the Maratha warrior king was crowned on June 6, 1674, at the Raigad fort, where he had established “Hindavi Swaraj” or the self-rule of Hindus. The anniversary of his coronation comes on June 2 this year according to the Hindu calendar.

Shinde and Fadnavis attended a number of rites marking Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation in the Raigad fort, around 170 km away. The 17th-century king’s idol was given a “jalabhishek” by Culture Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, which is a ritual water offering. It was drawn from rivers all over Maharashtra.

Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha, Garja Maharashtra Majha, the state anthem of Maharashtra, was played by a state police band as a mark of respect for the Maratha empire’s founder. From a helicopter, flower petals were dropped on the Shivaji Maharaj statue.

There were also descendants of the great Maratha warrior king in attendance.

To mark the anniversary of the coronation at the fort, the state government has planned events that will last for a full week.

On the 350th anniversary of “Shivrajyaabhishek,” Shinde and Fadnavis both extended greetings to the residents of the state.

Fadnavis tweeted, “Do join the year-long series of grand celebrations of 350th Year of ShivRajyabhishek, the Coronation Ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra.”

In a tweet posted on Thursday, CM Shinde said in order to propagate the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to each and every home, the government has organised various programmes till June 7.

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