Srinagar:  An equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been erected in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, and is set to be inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on November 7. This statue is positioned along the Line of Control near Kupwara. The inauguration will be marked by collecting water from all the rivers along the Kanyakumari-Kashmir route to anoint the statue.

The inauguration ceremony will be attended by several dignitaries, including Maharashtra's Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra’s Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, and army officers. Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the head of the Yedtore Mutt, Mysore – Sri Sri Shankar Bharathi Mahaswamiji, are also scheduled to be present. The equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj began its journey from Mumbai Raj Bhavan to Kupwara on October 20, accompanied by drum beats and chants of "Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji." The statue covered approximately 2200 km before reaching Kupwara, where it was received with great reverence by the Rashtriya Rifles and 41 Maratha Light Infantry Regiment stationed in Kupwara.

Rajesh Kshirsagar, an official, mentioned that the Maharashtra government will provide support for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial in Kupwara. A grand hall is set to be erected at the memorial site where visitors can learn about the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj through audio-visual presentations. The hall will also host an exhibition of weapons and information about the warrior tactics employed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Hemant Jadhav explained that during the inaugural ceremony, the water from all the rivers along the Kanyakumari-Kashmir route would be collected, and a Jal Abhishek (ritualistic pouring of water) would be performed on the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at 10 a.m. The site will then be open to the public.

This initiative to establish the statue was announced by the 'Amhi Punekar' (We Punekar) NGO in February 2023. The statue of the Maratha king near the India-Pakistan Line of Control was intended to provide soldiers with daily inspiration from the ideals and moral values of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It aimed to remind them of the bravery of the Hindu king and to bolster their resolve in fighting against enemies.

The Bhoomi Pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) for the statue took place in March 2023. Soil and water from historically significant forts like Raigad, Torana, Shivneri, Rajgad, and Pratapgad, where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had left his mark, were transported to Kashmir for the Bhoomi Poojan by the Amhi Punekar NGO.

Notably, two statues of the renowned Marathi ruler were established in Jammu and Kashmir in January 2022 by the Maratha regiment. One of these statues is positioned near the Line of Control at an altitude of 14,800 feet above sea level, and this statue, created by the Pune-based NGO, is set to be inaugurated soon.

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