This year, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti celebrations will be held not in the Diwan-i-Am of Agra Fort, but in the Jahangiri Mahal. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be attending the ceremony. The event, commemorating the 395th birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on February 19th, will also be attended by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several cabinet members.
Vinod Patil, president of the Ajinkya Devgiri Pratishthan, the organization that has been organizing the Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti celebrations at Agra Fort annually, informed that this year, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has granted permission to hold the event in a park outside the Jahangiri Mahal instead of the Diwan-i-Am. Organizers had requested permission for 2,000 attendees, but were limited to 800.
The event will feature presentations showcasing episodes from Shivaji Maharaj's life and theatrical performances. Large LED screens will be placed outside Agra Fort, allowing people to watch a live broadcast of the ceremony. Organizers claim that over one crore Shiva devotees from Maharashtra and other states will connect digitally to the event.
Sound Limitations to Protect the Monument
Two years ago, in 2023, a projection mapping and cultural presentation held for G20 delegates resulted in cracks in the walls and ceiling of the Diwan-i-Am due to loud sound. Following this, the ASI installed tilt-tel glass and carried out repairs. This year, as a condition of the permission, the ASI has mandated that the event's sound levels be kept to a maximum of 40 decibels to prevent any damage to the monument from the sound system.
Change in Venue
The stage in the Jahangiri Mahal has been downsized this year, after organizers initially proposed a larger, taller structure. Rajkumar Patel, the ASI's supervising archaeologist, ordered the reduction in size.
Organizers and attending leaders believe this event is a significant opportunity to remember and honor the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj.
