The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Monday (March 21) gave a big political message to the Shiv Sena by celebrating the 392nd birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as per the ‘Hindu calendar’ in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra government officially celebrates the birth anniversary of the 17th century Maratha warrior on February 19 as per the Gregorian calendar.
MNS wants to cash in on Shivaji Jayanti and give a strong political message to the ruling Shiv Sena. The reason for this is that Shiv Sena opposes celebrating the birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj according to the Gregorian calendar when it is in opposition. At the same time, after coming to the government, party leaders including Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray celebrated Shivaji’s birth anniversary on 19 February.
Shivneri Fort in Pune district is considered to be the birthplace of Shivaji. There Amit Thackeray, the leader of the MNS youth wing, son of Raj Thackeray, participated in the rituals and paid floral tributes to him amidst the drums and slogans of ‘Jai Shivaji’, ‘Jai Bhavani’. MNS leader Ameya Khopkar said that Shivaji’s statue in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park will be showered with flowers from a helicopter.
MNS President Raj Thackeray had already indicated that Shivaji’s birth anniversary should be celebrated according to the ‘Hindu calendar’. He had said, “We celebrate all our festivals with great gaiety every year according to the Hindu calendar. It has its own importance. So Diwali is never a fixed date. Its date changes every year. Similarly Shivaji’s birth anniversary should be celebrated according to the Hindu calendar.”
Apart from this, MNS is also using this opportunity to revive the organization ahead of important civic elections in the state. However, Shiv Sena also organized events on the birth anniversary of Shivaji in Mumbai and Maharashtra on Monday.
A senior Shiv Sena minister said, “Shiv Sena has always believed that the birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj should be celebrated according to the Hindu calendar. Since we are in government, we cannot oppose the official date of birth of February 19. There is no ambiguity in this. Shiv Sainiks feel that the chief minister and ministers have to strictly adhere to the official date, which is February 19. Whereas as an organization we are free to celebrate Shiv Jayanti as per the Hindu calendar, which it is today.”