Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Date, history, legacy, and powerful life lessons for today’s youth

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti honours the birth of one of India’s greatest warrior-kings and visionaries. The day is not just a remembrance of history, but a reminder of courage, leadership, and the idea of self-rule that still inspires generations.

When Is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Celebrated: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is observed every year on February 19 as per the Gregorian calendar, while the traditional Hindu calendar marks the celebration on Phalgun Krishna Paksha Tritiya, which may fall on a different date annually. In 2026, the Jayanti will be commemorated with great pride across Maharashtra and many parts of India through cultural programs, processions, and tributes.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born on February 19, 1630, near Junnar in present-day Pune district of Maharashtra. He was the son of Shahaji Bhosale, a respected Maratha general who served the Deccan Sultanates, and Jijabai, a deeply spiritual and courageous woman whose teachings shaped Shivaji’s character.

It was Jijabai’s stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, along with her emphasis on justice and self-respect, that sowed the seeds of Swarajya in young Shivaji’s mind.

At a time when large parts of India were under the dominance of powerful empires, Shivaji Maharaj envisioned Hindavi Swarajya, a self-governed kingdom rooted in justice, inclusivity, and people-centric rule.

His mission was not merely territorial expansion, but the creation of an administration that protected: