Shiv Rajyabhishek Diwas marks the coronation anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It celebrates the day he was crowned as a sovereign monarch in 1674, marking the formal establishment of Hindavi Swarajya (independent self-rule). [1, 2, 3, 4]
When is it Celebrated?
- Tithi: The festival is traditionally celebrated on the 13th day (Trayodashi) of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha.1
- Gregorian Calendar: Depending on the lunar calendar, the date changes every year. [3, 5, 6, 7]
The Core History
- The Coronation: On June 6, 1674, Shivaji Maharaj had a grand coronation ceremony at the Raigad Fort in Maharashtra.
- Reviving Tradition: He revived indigenous Hindu political and cultural traditions. He also replaced the Persian language used in court with Sanskrit and Marathi.
- A Just Rule: His kingdom was built on the values of Dharma (righteousness), justice, public welfare, and strong administrative systems. [1, 3, 4, 8, 9]
Significance Today
- Symbol of Pride: The day is seen as a major turning point in history that restored cultural confidence and independent political authority after centuries of foreign rule.
- Celebrations: Organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and various local groups across India honor the occasion by recalling the king’s bravery and lessons in good governance. [3, 10, 11]
Under the Gregorian calendar, the date for Shivaji’s coronation is 6 June 1674. Since the RSS goes by the Hindu calendar, the celebrations will be carried out on 3 June across 70,000 shakhas, by more than three dozen organisations backed by the Sangh.
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[3] https://www.mintageworld.com/media/detail/12060-hindu-samrajya-diwas/
[5] https://www.rss.org/Encyc/2017/6/7/hindu-samrajya-din-mohan-bhagwat-eng.html
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_calendar
[7] https://www.remitly.com/blog/lifestyle-culture/ugadi-traditions-rituals/
[9] https://utsav.gov.in/view-event/shiv-rajyabhishek-sohla-1
[11] https://www.instagram.com/p/DaA1nXsz3XH/
- In 2026, the Hindu calendar features two Jyeshtha months. This occurs because of a leap month known as Adhik Maas (also called Purushottam Maas or Mal Maas), which temporarily expands this year into a rare 13-month cycle.
Why Does This Happen?
The Hindu calendar is a lunisolar system—it tracks the Moon’s phases to define its months but aligns with the Sun to track the seasons. Because a lunar year is about 354 days long and a solar year is roughly 365 days, a gap of 11 days builds up every year.
If left uncorrected, lunar months and seasonal festivals would slowly drift entirely out of sync (for example, Diwali could eventually fall in the summer). To prevent this, the calendar naturally inserts an extra “leap” month approximately every 32.5 months. In 2026, this corrective math places the extra month right in the middle of Jyeshtha, creating a “Double Jyeshtha.”
The 2026 Jyeshtha Timeline
Because the extra month is inserted into the middle of the standard month, the timeline is actually split into three phases:
Regular Jyeshtha (Part 1)
May 2 – May 16
The standard month of Jyeshtha begins its normal cycle.
Adhik Jyeshtha
May 17 – June 15
The “extra” leap month pauses the regular calendar. Traditionally, this is considered a deeply spiritual period dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Devotees focus on charity, fasting, and inner growth, while major worldly ceremonies like weddings or housewarmings are typically postponed.
Regular Jyeshtha (Part 2)
June 16 – June 29
The regular Jyeshtha month resumes its course and concludes. ↩︎