Overview

• Thousands of people paid floral tributes and joined a palanquin procession at Raigad Fort to mark the 351st anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj’s 1674 coronation
• Descendant Sambhaji Chhatrapati joined the ceremony and offered homage at his ancestor’s memorial
• The 32-maund golden throne was crafted in 1673 under Ratnashala head Ramaji Datto Chitre with gold and precious gems for the coronation
• Its fate fell into uncertainty after Shivaji’s death and the subsequent Peshwa and British periods, leading historians to speculate it was hidden or dismantled
• Organizers and scholars said the coronation laid the groundwork for Hindavi Swarajya and continues to inspire ideals of self-rule and regional identity