On Wednesday, countless individuals took to social media platforms paying homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and marking Hindu Samrajya Diwas. While not an officially recognized occasion, this day is marked by many including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). While the date varies under the Gregorian calendar, this year, June 23 marks the 346th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation.
On 6th June 1674, Shivaji was crowned the king of the Maratha swaraj in a lavish ceremony at Raigad fort. As per the Hindu calendar, this was the 13th day of the first fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha in 1596. Reports suggest that the ceremonies were attended by nearly 50 thousand people. Often dubbed the founder of India's Hindu Samrajya, it was at this time that Shivaji took on the title of Chhatrapati and Haindava Dharmodhhaarak, which translates to mean 'protector of the Hindu faith'.
With this, many believe, a Hindu kingdom came into existence. Interestingly, Shivaji had a second coronation on 24 September 1674, after a tantrik declared that the original coronation had been held under inauspicious stars.
According to a booklet published by RSS-backed publishing house Suruchi Prakashan, Hindu Samrajya Dinotsav is "a festival that inspires an awakening in the society". And every year, it is marked with great fanfare by thousands - often with large scale events, singing of patriotic songs and more. This year, the celebrations have been taken online.
On Wednesday, the hashtag 'Hindu Samrajya Diwas' (being written primarily in Hindi) was a top trend on Twitter, with thousands of posts being shared.
