MAPUSA
Saffron-coloured flags donned the main square from the Gandhi Chowk to Hutatma Chowk and all around the taxi-stand in Mapusa even as hundreds of die-hard fans of the warrior king took a rally around the town to mark the Shiv Jayanthi.
Every year the event was being celebrated in Mapusa but in a much subdued manner with the garlanding of the Shivaji bust near the Hutatma Chowk. For the first time this year, the event was being held with much sound and fury.
Local businessman, Manoj Walke of Swaraj, an organization based in Mapusa took the lead in organizing the event this year.
Mapusa Municipal Council, Chairperson, Sandip Falari took part in the rally along with GCA secretary, Vinod Phadke who unsuccessfully contested as MGP candidate in Mapusa. The event is celebrated with great pomp and splendor across Maharashtra. Mostly political parties “ Shiv Sena and MNS take part in the celebrations of Shiv Jayanthi in the state.
To honour the warrior king, the state of Maharashtra has already planned a mid-sea Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial in Mumbai. Upon completion, the 210 metre statue will be the tallest in the world, surpassing the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. The entire memorial will be built on an islet spread across of 15.96 hectare.
Also, beautification of the Raigad fort is underway and the state is making efforts to secure a UNSECO world heritage tag for erstwhile capital of the Maratha empire.
