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February 19 is known as Maharashtra, and millions of Indians throughout the country celebrate Shivaji Jayanti with great pride and reverence. It is also on this day, the 399th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the birth date of one of the greatest warrior-kings in India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who was born in 1627 at Shivneri fort near Pune.

Shivaji Maharaj, known as the founder of Hindavi swaraj (self-rule of the Hindus), had built the Maratha Empire in the 17th century with remarkable military tactics, guerrilla warfare (ganomi kava), and unbending adherence to justice, religious tolerance, and safeguarding of the common people. He then had the guts to oppose the powers of the Mughal Empire, which was at its zenith at the time; after crowning himself as Chhatrapati in 1674 at Raigad Fort, he formed a navy that controlled the Konkan Coast.

It is not only a historical memorial; it is an ongoing event of living with values that do not lose their value in the present times, a verity of self-respect, a courage, an environment of secular government, and a fight against tyranny. In Maharashtra, the day opens with offerings at the forts of Raigad, Sinhagad, and Shivneri, and thousands of people attend these forts to hoist the flag, have processions, and also cultural programs. Elocution, essays, and plays about the life of the man are organized in schools, colleges, and offices. Bhajans and kirtans are also done in his honor at temples and community halls.

A public holiday is orchestrated by the Maharashtra government, and tableaus of Shivaji Maharaj on horseback, astrology of his nine jewels (Ashtapradhan Mandal), and battle scenes (such as Pratapgad and Pavan Khind) are frequently seen in such cities as Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, and Kolhapur.

The legacy of Shivaji Maharaj fills all the Indians and not just Marathis. His life provides lessons, which are that a great leader should be able to defend the weaker and defend dharma and struggle to freedom with intelligence and courage. As the country celebrates the power of the Shivaji Jayanti in 2026, his most famous statement is gaining more and more influence: Swarajya is my birthright, and I will have it.

Jai Bhavani! Jai Shivaji!