Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti celebrated with great enthusiasm in Nashik

NASHIK: Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti was celebrated on an enthusiastic note in Nashik on Sunday.A large number of people turned up to see the 61-foot statue of Shivaji Maharaj at Ashok Stambh. The rush of people to watch the tableaus put up by various mandals was the main feature of the celebrations. Throughout the day, people visited DGP Nagar to watch the image of Shivaji Maharaj prepared from rangoli, while the citizens thronged Nashik Road to see the beautiful decorations. Meanwhile, right from early morning, saffron flags were seen all over. From the break of the dawn, 'powadas' and songs on Chhatrapati Shivaji reverberated through the city. Various mandals also organised many processions. In the morning, 158 mandals jointly organised a huge palanquin procession (palkhi) in the old city area. The traditional procession in the old city started from Wakadi Barav in the evening with district guardian minister Dada Bhuse breaking a coconut. Earlier during the day, at a Shivaji Jayanti programme at Canada Corner, Bhuse told media that it was a day of pride as, for the first time, Shiv Jayanti was being celebrated at the Agra Fort. Apart from this, other processions were organised at Nashik Road, Ambad, Indiranagar, Deolali Camp, etc. The celebrations at Nashik Road attracted thousands of people from the city and the adjoining villages to watch the huge tableau of a fort and Goddess Tulja Bhavani set up behind the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. During celebrations at the divisional commissioner office, the state song 'Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha, Garja Maharashtra Majha' was sung by the officers and employees. Divisional commissioner Radhakrishna Game worshipped the image of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Additional commissioner Nilesh Sagar and deputy commissioner (administration) Ramesh Kale were also present at the event.