Maharana Pratap Jayanti 2023: Date , history, significance, festivities
1 min read . Updated: 09 May 2023, 11:08 AM IST
PremiumMaharana Pratap Jayanti 2023 in India will be celebrated on May 22. It is a festival commemorating Maharana Pratap Singh, a Mewar Rajput king.
Maharana Pratap Jayanti 2023 in India will be celebrated on May 22. It is a festival commemorating Maharana Pratap Singh, a Mewar Rajput king.
History
Maharana Pratap was born in Rajasthan on May 9th, 1540. Maharana Udai Singh II, the king of the Kingdom of Mewar was his father. Pratap was the Crown Prince as he was the eldest of 25 sons. After his father's death he ascended the throne of Mewar.
Maharana Pratap was a Hindu Rajput King who belonged to the Sisodiya clan of Rajputs. He is revered and worshipped by many royal families in Rajasthan for his bravery and courage.
The legendary king is revered as a true patriot who initiated the country’s first war of independence. In the battle of Haldighati, he fought alongside Akbar, one of the most famous Mughal Emperors. Maharana Pratap was eventually forced to flee. However, he managed to kill a large number of opponents on the battlefield, gaining respect and acclaim for his bravery. Hence, every year on the third day of the Jyeshtha Shukla phase, the third month of the Hindu calendar, his birth anniversary is observed as Maharana Pratap Jayanti.
He was severely injured in a hunting accident in January 1597. He died at the age of 56 on 29th January 1597. He gave his life fighting for his country, his people, and, most importantly, his honour.
Birth Anniversary
As per the Julian calendar, Maharana Pratap was born on May 9th, 1540. The Julian calendar is obsolete and it has been replaced by Gregorian calendar. According to Proleptic Gregorian calendar Maharana Pratap was born on May 19th 1540.
However, the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap is celebrated as per Hindu calendar. And, according to Hindu calendar it was Tritiya, Jyeshtha, Shukla Paksha, 1597 Vikram Samvat when Maharana Pratap was born, which comes either in late May or early June on the Western calendar.
Maharana Pratap Jayanti in 2023 falls on 22 May, which is a regional public holiday in the northern Indian states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Maharana Pratap Jayanti Celebrations
Extensive special pujas, numerous cultural events and debates take place throughout the country on this day, in his memory. On this day people also pay a visit to his memorial statue in Udaipur. Vibrant parades and religious rites also take place to commemorate the king’s legacy.