Ahilyabai Holkar's 300th Birth Anniversary to Be Celebrated Nationwide

Prayagraj : In commemoration of the 300th birth anniversary of the revered Maratha queen, Ahilyabai Holkar, a 10-day nationwide celebration will be held from May 21 to 31. The initiative, spearheaded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will involve large-scale events across every district in India, highlighting her enduring legacy of temple restoration, women’s empowerment, and public welfare.

The state-level preparatory workshop for this campaign was held on May 14 at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow. The event witnessed the participation of district presidents, campaign coordinators, media in-charges, and IT heads from regions including Prayagraj Yamunapar, Gangapar, and Mahanagar. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak, State BJP President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, and BJP State General Secretary (Organization) Dhrampal Singh addressed the gathering and offered strategic guidance.

Highlighting her pivotal role in India’s cultural heritage, it was recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated a statue of Ahilyabai Holkar at the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi. Known for her temple restorations from Kashi to Somnath, Ahilyabai was celebrated for harmonizing tradition with progress — a quality that modern India continues to admire and emulate.

According to BJP District Media In-Charge Dilip Kumar Chaturvedi, the decision to organize this large-scale campaign was made following a national-level workshop held in New Delhi on May 9. He also noted that district-level strategic planning meetings are scheduled for May 17–18.

The campaign, officially titled the "Ahilyabai Holkar Janm Trishatabdi Smriti Abhiyan," will include a variety of district-level events:

Seminars and symposiums to explore Ahilyabai’s life and contributions

Cleanliness drives at river ghats

Runs and rallies promoting women’s empowerment

Tribute ceremonies and exhibitions featuring the queen’s history and achievements

Participation from elected women representatives to emphasize inclusive governance

These initiatives aim not only to honor Ahilyabai’s contributions to society and religion but also to inspire citizens, especially women, to engage in social upliftment and public service.

The Lucknow workshop saw enthusiastic participation from campaign officials, including Kashi Region Vice President Awadhesh Chandra Gupta, Yamunapar District Vice President Ashok Pandey, Women’s Wing District President Savita Mishra, Prayagraj City Media In-Charge Rajesh Keserwani, IT District Coordinator Satish Vishwakarma, along with many others involved in the campaign from Gangapar, Yamunapar, and the city region.

The upcoming commemorative events promise to revive historical consciousness and instill values of service and strength among communities — echoing the ideals upheld by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar throughout her reign.