Nagpur’s royal artillery is a part of Navratri rituals

Royal traditions seldom fail to leave you in awe. Exemplifying the same, the Bhonsle family of the region holds a shastra puja in their palace, at Mahal, during Navratri; it is a centuries-old ritual which is still carried out with the same fervour and zest. We bring you a sneak-peek into the artillery collection that is paid obeisance during this royal tradition.
Arrows, spears and more
A plethora of other pointed weapons can also be found in this collection. “We have various types of spears that were used for activities — from pig-sticking while riding horses to training young warriors. They are thus sized form six to 30 inches,” said Mudhoji. “Over 200-year-old bows and arrows are also a part of this assortment. The speciality about the bows is that their strings are made of pliable wood. Thus they can generate high tension and were used for hunting effectively,” he added.
Breathtaking sword collection
A scion of Bhonsle family, Raje Mudhoji Bhonsle, gave us an insight into the history associated with this weaponry as he said, “The swords here range right from the era of Raghuji I to the last years of struggle before India’s independence and are available in all shapes and sizes. One of the star attractions in this collection is a 300-year-old double-edged sword, which is a rectilinear piece of steel. It weighs around 9 kg.”
Guns and gunpowder
Adding to the firepower of the armaments are some historic guns and cannons. Mudhoji informed, “Among the host of guns here, we have a special 32 bore double-barrel rifle, which is a rarity in the city. It is a light-weight equipment, specially designed for women hunters, back in the day. There are also a few German-make rifles, which were collected during the 18th century,” and added, “We also have a small cannon, with a range of 500-600m, which can be loaded up to 75 per cent of its length. It was mounted on horses and used to inflict maximum damage from close range.”
Small knives, big history
Apart from the hefty swords and spears, smaller knives can also be found in this room of rich history that were used by warriors when attacked covertly. “There are smaller knives that can fit into swords and be used in a war situation to your advantage. In addition, the inventory also houses kataars; one of them resembling the one that Shivaji used to attack Afzal khan,” said Mudhoji.