Mumbai: The historic sword of Shrimant Raje Raghuji Bhonsle will arrive in Mumbai tomorrow, August 18, where it will be given a grand welcome by the Government of Maharashtra at the Mumbai International Airport. Later in the evening, it will be ceremoniously unveiled in the august presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Sword Secured
The legendary sword of Shrimant Raje Raghuji Bhonsle was recently secured by the Government of Maharashtra through an auction. Cultural Affairs Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar took possession of the sword in London, and it will arrive in Mumbai tomorrow, August 18. At 10 a.m., Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar will formally receive the historic sword at the international airport. After paying homage to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the airport, a bike rally will be held, after which the sword will be carried on a decorated chariot and taken to the P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy.
Meanwhile, at 6 p.m., the Departments of Cultural Affairs, Archaeology and Museums, and the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, along with PL Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, have organized the ‘Sena Saheb Subha Parakram Darshan’ ceremony. During the program, the exhibition and inauguration of the historic sword of Shrimant Raje Raghuji Bhonsle will be carried out at the hands of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Minister for Cultural Affairs and IT and Guardian Minister of Suburban District Adv. Ashish Shelar will be present.
Shrimant Mudhoji Raje Bhonsle, descendant of Shrimant Raje Raghuji Bhonsle, will also grace the occasion with his special presence. The event will also be attended by Dr. Kiran Kulkarni (IAS), Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs, local MP Anil Desai, and MLA Mahesh Sawant, among others.
The program will be held on Monday, August 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Prabhadevi, Mumbai. The event is open to all, and the Archaeology and Museums Directorate’s Director Dr. Tejas Madan Garge, PL Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy’s Director Meenal Joglekar, and Directorate of Cultural Affairs’ Director Vibhishan Chavare have appealed to citizens to attend in large numbers.
