
Grand celebrations for 351st coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
was celebrated on a grand scale on Friday.
Former MP
Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati
performed the traditional rituals on the idol of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Raigad Fort, where the actual coronation had taken place on June 6,1674.
The coronation ceremony of the king is being celebrated at the fort over the last few decades owing to the initiative of former MP and Akhil Bhartiya Shivrajyabhishek Mahotsav Samiti.
On Friday, Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati and his son Yashraje Chhatrapati performed the abhishek of the idol of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Raigad Fort. Powadas recited by shaheers brought enthusiasm among the people.
Around 150 police officers, 1,600 police personnel, along with the traffic police team, state reserve police, Raigad police, riot control team, local rescue team, and volunteers, ensured that the celebrations were conducted peacefully.
At the New Palace in Kolhapur, the residence of royal family of Kolhapur, a 'suvarna mudra abhishek' was performed by the royal family members in presence of MP Shahu Chhatrapati. On this occasion, royal family members Maharani Yadnyaseni Chhatrapati, Malojiraje Chhatrapati, Madhurimaraje Chhatrapati, Yashasviniraje Chhatrapati, and Yashrajraje Chhatrapati were present, along with a large number of citizens who arrived at the New Palace to witness the event.
A musical band performance by Maratha Light Infantry was also held.
Meanwhile, a colourful procession rally on behalf of the Akhil Bhartiya Maratha Mahasangh was taken out on Friday evening, in which hundreds of kids dressed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Maharani Jijau participated. The procession commenced from Mangalwar Peth and went across the city streets with performance of traditional games like lathi-kathi, lezim, and Dhangari dhol troop.
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The Print
25 minutes ago
- The Print
Maharashtra's cattle trade comes to near standstill as traders allege ‘free rein' to gau rakshaks
But it has been getting worse with each passing year, especially during Bakra-Eid, they say. Shaikh comes from the Qureshi community. An estimated 2 lakh members of the community, who are part of the cattle trade in Maharashtra, have been on a strike since the start of July to protest harassment by cow vigilantes. The harassment, which can easily spiral into physical assault, has become a part and parcel of their profession over the past decade, since the passage of Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015. Mumbai: Hamid Shaikh is a licensed cattle trader and was on his way to sell a buffalo and three bulls. It would fetch him Rs 1.5 lakh, he hoped. But the 55-year-old returned home with bruises all over his body, no livestock and no money. 'Cow vigilantes stopped our truck and said we were taking these animals for slaughter which was not the case,' Shaikh told ThePrint about the incident from about three weeks ago. For instance, in Hamid Shaikh's case, he said he 'bought them (livestock) from Pachod (near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) market a few days ago and was taking them to Ch. Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) market for selling them'. 'I have all proper documentation for animals. Despite that, they took away my animals. They slapped me twice. I told them to not hit me since I had a bypass (surgery), but they still hit me. I was scared,' he added. Imran Babu Qureshi, national vice-president of All India Jamaitul Qureshi, told ThePrint that members of the community decided to go on strike 'because there is no response' from either the state government or police. 'There is an increase in incidents of cow vigilantes hitting our drivers, traders. That is the reason we have called this bandh.' In March 2015, the BJP-Shiv Sena government led by Devendra Fadnavis banned sale, possession and consumption of beef by amending the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976, which allowed slaughter of old bulls and bullocks with permission from civic authorities. The amendment brought about a complete ban on slaughter of cows and their progeny, bulls and bullocks. It allowed slaughter of buffaloes subject to certain conditions. On 15 July this year, the All India Jamiatul Quresh (AIJQ), a union of cattle traders, met Maharashtra Minister of State (MoS) for Home Yogesh Kadam as well as Director-General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla with a letter, seeking protection from gau rakshaks. They sent another letter on 24 July, demanding the police issue directions/orders as assured to them to make sure cattle traders are not harassed by cow vigilantes. 'We would also like to state that due to pressure of such unauthorized persons/vigilantes, the concerned police officers in various villages, tehsils and districts in the state are pressured to proceed to seize such transport vehicles and animals which otherwise are permitted to be transported. This creates further harassment and troubles on the transporter and the trader,' the Maharashtra AIJQ president wrote in this letter. Members of the Qureshi community are now planning to meet again next week to decide on a plan of action. When contacted, Yogesh Kadam confirmed to ThePrint that he met AIJQ representatives and told ThePrint that there are always two sides to a story. The minister said he had already assured action against those harassing cattle traders. 'During our meeting, I told them to follow all the rules required to conduct their business as many times the transporters do not have requisite documents. At the same time, I have assured action against those who were harassing them and also asked to share their details. I have not received any information from them yet,' Kadam told ThePrint. On 14 July, MoS Home (Rural) Prakash Bhoyar told the Legislative Council that the state government was thinking of bringing in a new law against beef smuggling and also planning to withdraw cases against gau rakshaks by way of a new law to protect cow progeny. Also Read: Fodder for thought: Modi govt's cow welfare agency has been headless for 4 yrs, Rs 500 cr lying idle 'Will die of hunger' In Maharashtra, the slaughter of bovine is prohibited, and a certificate from a veterinary is required to slaughter buffaloes. This certificate needs to specifically mention that the buffalo is 'unfit' for milking and is not pregnant. Most of the 292 livestock markets in Maharashtra are now closed, barring some in Pune and Mumbai. These attract those who want to sell or buy animals for slaughter, and also farmers and traders who want to buy or sell animals either for farming or dairy businesses. The state government last year gave 'Rajyamata' status to cows and also approved the animal husbandry department's proposal to provide Rs 50 daily subsidy per animal to cow shelter operators. Members of the Qureshi community ThePrint spoke to say approximately 300-500 animals are traded at every market, each costing anywhere between Rs 10,000 to over a lakh, depending on the size, age and the fitness of the animal. They add that harassment of cattle traders at the hands of cow vigilantes has been steadily rising since the passage of the 2015 legislation. 'There is a lot of hooliganism in the name of gau raksha in the state. The police are not cooperating with us. We are all very scared. Markets used to be full of animals but everything is closed now. We are suffering huge economic losses as well,' said Aziz Qureshi, Nanded district coordinator, AIJQ. 'About 50,000 people from our community are in this trade in the entire district. They are saying we will die of hunger but think twice before going back into the trade,' he added. Community members said the bandh started about a month ago with the Nagpur market and slowly spread across the state. They also alleged that while police do not register their complaints, FIRs are filed against members of the Qureshi community instead. Asked to comment on these allegations, minister Kadam said, 'I told them to tell me which particular area they are facing issues with. Won't be happening all over Maharashtra. So they need to give me a particular area or organisation troubling them. I will make sure that I tell the police to act accordingly. But except for the letter, I haven't received any official complaint. If need be, we will talk to them again.' The Qureshi community is demanding strict action against vigilantes/extortionists and proper implementation of the provisions of sections 6 and 8 of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976, and the Transport of Animal Rules, 1978. Another allegation is that the animals gau rakshaks confiscate are taken to 'gaushalas' (cow shelters) operated by the government. Cattle trader Moinuddin Qureshi alleged his truck containing seven buffaloes was taken away by gau rakshaks on 6 June and an FIR was registered against him and the truck driver. ThePrint has seen a copy of the FIR. The animals were later sent to a gaushala while the police investigated the matter and found nothing suspicious, he said. According to Moinuddin, the police then wrote to the gaushala saying that 'during the investigation, we found that Qureshi has all the documentation including fitness certificate for the buffaloes' and that the complaint was made out of a 'misunderstanding'. ThePrint has seen a copy of the letter. However, Moinuddin is yet to get his livestock back. 'In fact, now the gaushala has gone to local court against us and refusing to give us our animals … Everything is legal, we have the documents but only because of our religion, we are being harassed.' Other cattle traders too said once the animals are sent to the local gaushala, it is very difficult to recover them. 'Behind every animal, the government gives a certain amount for nourishment of these animals at the gaushalas. But when our farmers and traders are trying to get back the animals from gaushalas, they are not there. So where did our animals go? Where are they taking them?' asked AIJQ acting president Javed Qureshi. Shaikh agreed. He was told his animals were taken to Badnapur gaushala. 'But even two days back when I went there, I did not see my animals there. Don't know where they are. I might never get them back now.' (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: BJP's 'cow protection brigade' gets official stamp in new animal husbandry ministry


Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Kargil Vijay Diwas: Did you know THIS national award-winning Bollywood actor served in Indian Army during Kargil War?
As India celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas , honouring the brave soldiers who fought in the 1999 Kargil War , one name from the world of films shines in a different light, Nana Patekar . Known for his intense roles and award-winning performances, the veteran actor did something truly remarkable. He left the comfort of film sets and joined the Indian Army during the war, putting his life on the line alongside real soldiers. Not a typical Bollywood-style hero Vishwanath Patekar, famously known as Nana Patekar, is one of the finest actors in Hindi and Marathi cinema. Born in 1951, Nana made his film debut in 'Gaman' in 1978. In the years that followed, he won hearts with films like 'Parinda', 'Prahaar', 'Angaar', 'Salaam Bombay', and 'Tirangaa'. He may not have looked like the usual Bollywood hero, but his power-packed performances spoke louder than anything else. A huge name in the 90s, Nana is also a three-time National Award winner. He trained with real-life soldiers While shooting 'Prahaar', Nana went through serious military training. As reported by BollywoodShaadis, he trained with the Maratha Light Infantry for three years. This wasn't just for the cameras—it left a strong impact on him. When the Kargil War broke out in 1999, Nana didn't just cheer from the sidelines. He wanted to join the Army and serve the nation for real. But his wish was met with hesitation by military officials. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Abandoned houses for sale near you at affordable prices abandoned houses Learn More Undo Officials refused his request at first At first, the army officials didn't agree with his request. Nana wasn't ready to give up so easily. He even mentioned his national-level shooting experience, hoping it would help, but still, nothing moved forward. Nana reached out to George Fernandes When he was told only the Defence Ministry could approve his request, Nana went straight to the top. He contacted the then Defence Minister, George Fernandes. During his appearance on 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', Nana shared: 'I knew our Defence Minister George Fernandes ji, so I called him. Even he said it is impossible. I told him that even though the training for commission is six months, I trained for three years. He was surprised and asked me about it. After learning of my experience with the Maratha Light Infantry, he asked me, 'When do you want to go?'' Nana patrolled in conflict-hit zones In August 1999, Nana officially joined the Army as an honorary captain. His dream had come true. Wearing the Indian Army uniform with pride, he was posted in some of the most dangerous areas during the war—Dras, Kupwara, Baramulla, Sopore, and Mughalpura. He did everything that the other soldiers did. He patrolled the Line of Control , stood guard, and even helped out in military hospitals. Nana didn't just visit the camps for photos—he lived like a soldier. Lost 20 kg while on duty Life at the border was not easy. Nana was part of the Quick Response Team (QRT) and saw the war up close. Speaking to The Lallantop, Nana said: 'I was 76 kg when I reached Srinagar. By the time I came back, I was 56 kg.' He lost 20 kg during his time at the front. But instead of complaining, he felt proud to have stood with India's brave soldiers in a real war zone. Returned to acting with more power Once his service ended, Nana returned to films. His passion for acting never faded, but now, he had a new layer of experience and pride. He gave back-to-back strong performances and continued to impress audiences with his honest and powerful screen presence.


Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Kargil Vijay Diwas: Meet the National Award-winning actor who joined Indian Army during Kargil War, was deployed at the border
During the Kargil War in 1999, Bollywood actor Nana Patekar, known for his on-screen portrayals of strong characters, took his patriotism beyond acting. He sought permission to join the military effort, drawing on his prior army training for the film 'Prahaar'. Deployed near the Line of Control, he provided logistical and moral support to soldiers, embodying civilian courage and dedication. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads From Reel Patriotism to Real Action Serving at the Edge of Conflict Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Larger Battle for the Peaks A Lasting Symbol of Civilian Courage As war clouds loomed over the icy peaks of Kargil in 1999, it wasn't just trained soldiers who stepped up to defend the nation—some civilians, too, felt an unshakable urge to contribute. Among them stood a name not unfamiliar to the public: veteran Bollywood actor Nana Patekar . On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas , it is worth revisiting how this acclaimed performer stepped far beyond the arc lights to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with real-life heroes in one of the most treacherous conflicts of recent for portraying complex, powerful characters in Indian cinema, Nana Patekar had always shown a deep fascination with the armed forces. This admiration didn't remain confined to movie scripts or acting roles. Back in the early 1990s, while preparing for his film Prahaar—which delved into the rigors of military life—he immersed himself in actual army training with the Maratha Light Infantry for three years. This firsthand experience was not just for artistic accuracy; it left a lasting imprint on his values and the Kargil War erupted in May 1999, he was not content to merely support the cause through words or public appearances. Determined to take meaningful action, he approached top army officers with a request to join the military effort at the border. His offer was initially declined. However, his persistent spirit led him to seek the intervention of then Defence Minister George Fernandes. By invoking his earlier military training, he convinced the authorities to allow his participation in the ongoing August 1999, when the main combat had begun to ease but the situation remained volatile, Nana Patekar was finally deployed in the Kargil region. He was attached to a Quick Response Team (QRT) operating near the Line of Control (LoC), the fragile boundary separating Indian and Pakistani military positions. Though not involved in direct combat, he worked alongside soldiers in volatile zones and offered logistical and moral the battlefield, Patekar also extended his services to a military base hospital, where he contributed to the treatment of wounded troops. The harsh environment tested his physical endurance. The bitter cold, rugged terrain, and austere conditions caused him to lose nearly 20 kilograms—shedding light on the taxing physical conditions soldiers endure daily. Despite this strain, he viewed the experience as one of deep emotional Kargil War, fought from May to July 1999, unfolded in the mountainous terrain of Ladakh's Kargil district, then part of the larger Jammu and Kashmir region. The conflict stemmed from the stealthy incursion of Pakistani soldiers—disguised as militants—who occupied key Indian positions along the LoC. This confrontation evolved into a high-altitude war between India and military launched a counteroffensive named Operation Vijay to reclaim the occupied territories. The Indian Air Force also collaborated with ground forces under a parallel mission, Operation Safed Sagar, delivering aerial support and reconnaissance. The combined operations succeeded in pushing back the infiltrators, but the toll on both human life and national morale was choosing to serve amidst conflict, Nana Patekar didn't just honor the spirit of patriotism—he exemplified it. His decision to move from screen heroics to frontline duty stands as a powerful reminder that courage is not bound by profession. His story remains an enduring chapter in India's narrative of unity, sacrifice, and unbreakable resolve.