Indore’s Holkar family holds ascension ceremony for young prince at Rajwada palace

Indore: At Malhari Martand Deosthan inside the historic Rajwada palace, Indore's royal Holkar family held an ‘Uttaradhikari' (ascension) ceremony of Yeshwant Rao Holkar complete with all traditional rituals on March 26, which coincided with Ram Navami. Conducted in accordance with the wishes of Maharani Usha Devi (of the erstwhile Indore state), the ceremony, led by Rajguru of the Holkars, Vijay Rajopadhyay, brought together members of the Holkar family and hereditary nobles. As the ceremony began, Yeshwant wearing a red turban and floral garlands, was seen offering prayers and performing sacred rituals. Videos of the ceremony shared by the royal family showed priests guiding the rituals while family members sat in close formation, maintaining solemnity. Floral decorations, traditional ornaments and ceremonial objects marked the setting on the temple premises. In one of the key moments, Yashwant received ceremonial honours in the presence of senior family members, signalling the transition ahead. After the rituals, a ‘darbar' was convened, recreating the courtly traditions of the erstwhile Indore state. Yeshwant's father, Richard Holkar, a member of the Holkar family of Indore and son of Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II, has been associated with the management of the Ahilya Fort at Maheshwar, which was adapted into a heritage property under his supervision. His mother Sally Holkar, born in the United States, moved to India in the 1960s and later settled in Maheshwar, where she worked in the field of handloom textiles. In 1978, Richard and Sally Holkar were involved in establishing the Rehwa Society, aimed at reviving Maheshwari weaving and creating local employment, particularly for women. Their work has been linked to the continuation of Maheshwari textile production and the upkeep of parts of the Holkar family's properties in Maheshwar. Sally Holkar was awarded the Padma Shri in 2025 for her contribution to handloom weaving. Addressing those present at his ascension ceremony, Yeshwant said that the responsibility entrusted to him was both an honour and a commitment. "It is a great honour to be bestowed with this responsibility by my revered aunt, Maharani Usha Devi. The ceremonial role of the Holkar family has evolved in the modern era, and accordingly, it will be my most sincere endeavour to carry forward our family's legacy of service in the fields of heritage conservation through the Holkar Cultural Centre, handloom revival through Rehwa Society and WomenWeave, and the charitable and pious works of Punyashlok Devi Ahilyabai Holkar through the Khasgi Trust."