Labor Minister Santosh Lad and Dharwad Deputy Commissioner Snehal R. pay floral tributes and take out a colorful procession on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti in Dharwad on February 19. Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Shivaji Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was celebrated with enthusiasm in Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Uttara Kannada and Davangere districts on February 19.
Colorful processions with portraits and statues of Shivaji Maharaj on decorated vehicles were taken out on the thoroughfares of villages, towns and cities on the occasion, while taluk and district administrations organized programs in their respective offices.
Political leaders and representatives of various organizations took turns garlanding statues of Shivaji Maharaj at junctions at various places and motorcycle races were also held with youth waving saffron flags.
In Dharwad, Labor Minister Santosh Lad along with Deputy Commissioner Snehal R and Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Councilor Mayur More left the colorful parade by paying floral tributes to Shivaji’s portrait. The procession, which started from Shivaji Circle, ended at the point of origin after passing through the main arteries of the city.
Participating in the subsequent Shivaji Jayanti celebrations at the Bharat High School ground in Dharwad, FH Jakkappanavar, MLC, said that Shivaji Maharaj was not confined to the community but belonged to the entire society. “King Shivaji was a good warrior, administrator and treated people of all religions equally. His struggle was against religion but against injustice and against what was against religion,” the MLC added. Additional Deputy Commissioner Geetha CD and others recalled the contributions of King Shivaji.
Speaking at the ‘Shivaji Jayanti’ celebrations organized by the district administration in Gadag, Deputy Commissioner CN Sridhar emphasized the need to learn from the life of King Shivaji. Advocate Sudhir Singh Ghorpade delivered a lecture on the life of Shivaji Maharaj.
Similar programs were held in other districts and cultural programs for children. Plays about King Shivaji were also performed at several places.
Published – 19 Feb 2026 19:34 IST