Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026 Observed Twice Due to Calendar Differences

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti in 2026 will be observed twice in Maharashtra: officially on February 19 according to the English calendar and on March 6 based on the Hindu lunar calendar. This dual celebration arises from historical differences between the Julian calendar date of his birth, February 19, 1630, and its conversion to the Hindu lunar system, which places the anniversary on Phalguna Krishna Paksha Tritiya. Scholars have debated his exact birth date, but the state recognizes February 19 as official.