Maharashtra: Grand Celebrations Planned for the 350th Coronation Day of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Mumbai, 1st June 2023: The state government is gearing up for the grand celebration of the completion of 350 years since Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation. On this momentous occasion, Shiva Rajabhishek Day will be celebrated in a grand manner at Raigad on Friday.
The inauguration ceremony will take place on Friday morning at 8:30 AM, with a special message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be broadcasted.
To mark this celebration, a series of cultural programs have been organized at Pachad in the Raigad Fort area from June 1st to June 6th. The esteemed presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, Guardian Minister Uday Samant, and Raigad Development Authority Chairman Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati is expected.
The administration is fully prepared for the coronation ceremony of Shiva, ensuring essential services and facilities are in place. In anticipation of a large gathering of Shiva devotees, the district administration has appointed 33 committees. Restrooms and control rooms will be established at Raj Sadar, Holi Mal, Jagadishwar Mandir, and other locations to provide relief from the heat. Tents will be set up for ST vehicle drivers, police personnel, and medical teams. The district administration has also arranged for four ambulances equipped with advanced life support systems and 16 additional ambulances. A total of 24 medical teams, comprising 104 doctors and 350 health workers, will be available day and night. Ample stock of medicines will be available at the parking area, fort footpath, and steps every 300 meters.
To ensure smooth crowd management, the administration has made arrangements for sound systems, public announcement systems, walkie talkies, portable sound equipment, searchlights, and power backup systems. The entire ceremony will be closely monitored through CCTV cameras and drones, with control rooms set up to address emergency situations. Additionally, four fire engines will be stationed at strategic locations, including the parking lot, bus depot, fort footpath, and all pavilions on the fort premises.
At the Gateway of India, various cultural programs have been organized from June 1st to June 7th by the Cultural Affairs Department and Western Region Cultural Centre. The grand drama ‘Janata Raja’ will be performed on June 1st, followed by Rajasthani folk art on June 2nd, Maharashtra folk art on June 3rd and 4th, and Goa and Gujarat folk art from June 5th to June 7th. Furthermore, an exhibition showcasing weapons from the Shiva era will be held from June 1st to June 7th.
To facilitate the arrival of Shiva devotees from across the state, a dedicated parking lot has been arranged near Raigad Fort. Free transportation will be provided to the devotees using 150 buses from Vahantal to Pachad Naka.
In view of the celebrations for the 350th coronation day of Shiva Rajya Abhishek at Raigad fort, restrictions have been imposed on heavy traffic along the Mumbai-Goa highway and the Wakan-Khopoli route. Heavy vehicles will be prohibited from these routes starting from Wednesday midnight until 12 midnight on June 2nd, and from 12 midnight on June 4th to 12 midnight on June 6th.
