Tawi Aarti held to commemorate 300th Birth Anniversary of Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar
Jammu, 31 May 2025:
A grand spiritual show of Tawi Aarti was performed to celebrate the 300th Birth Anniversary of Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar at Har Ki Pauri, Bahu Fort, on the banks of the sacred Tawi River in Jammu.
Sat Sharma, President of J&K BJP, was accompanied by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, J&K BJP General Secretary (Organization) Ashok Koul, MP (Lok Sabha) Jugal Kishore Sharma, former Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta, BJP Vice-President Yudhvir Sethi (MLA), General Secretary Adv. Vibodh Gupta, Secretary Arvind Gupta (MLA), Vikram Randhawa (MLA), former Minister Priya Sethi, and other senior leaders participated in the event.
A grand Vedic Aarti, which began with Shankhnaad, was performed by 11 pandits to commemorate the occasion. This was followed by the distribution of sweet Prasad among the attendees.
Floral tributes were also paid to the portrait of Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar.
Sat Sharma, while offering floral tributes to Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar, described her as one of the most visionary female rulers. He said that her public welfare works and administration, even after facing personal tragedies, are beyond comparison. She rebuilt her kingdom while empowering the people, especially the neglected and oppressed. She empowered women and rebuilt a new social structure while extending her spiritual and public welfare initiatives beyond the boundaries of her empire. Her vision enabled real-time connectivity across the nation. The modern-day ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative by the Prime Minister is effectively an extension of the same vision once envisioned by the legendary queen, Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar, he added.
Sunil Sharma, while offering floral tributes, lauded the performance of Tawi Aarti on the auspicious occasion of the 300th birth anniversary of Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar. He said that her legacy should be passed on to future generations. He emphasized that although she lived a life of simplicity and humility, she gave the world a true example of greatness. He also highlighted the importance of organizing such cultural events to develop these heritage spots.
Ashok Koul said that beyond her military and administrative achievements, Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar was known for her philanthropy and religious fervor. She built numerous temples, ghats, and rest houses, often beyond her own kingdom, demonstrating her broad vision and commitment to the welfare of others. She also played a role in promoting education and social reforms, challenging the traditional norms of her time.
Jugal Kishore Sharma spoke about the life of Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar. He stated that to take her legacy to the masses, similar programs are being organized in other parts of the nation by the BJP under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is part of a greater mission to connect the entire nation culturally, he said.
Mahant Saraswati Ji Maharaj of Har Ki Pauri also delivered an inspiring spiritual speech that enlightened the attendees.
Priya Sethi presented an overview of the event and spoke on the significance of performing Tawi Aarti on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar.
DDC Vice-Chairperson Suraj Singh, Ashwani Sharma, Anju Dogra, Ayodhya Gupta, Adv. Rajesh Gupta, Naresh Singh Jasrotia, Rajiv Charak, Sunil Prajapati, Neelam Langeh, Reema Padha, Prabhat Jamwal, Dr. Tahir Choudhary, Prof. Kulbhushan Mohtra, Sanjay Baru, Rekha Mahajan, and many others were also present on the occasion.
