About Maharana Pratap Jayanti
Maharana Pratap Jayanti marks the birth of Pratap Singh I, the 16th-century Sisodia ruler of Mewar remembered for refusing to submit to Akbar. In 2027 it falls on Monday, 7 June 2027, the third day of the bright half of Jyeshtha, which is how Rajasthan sets its state holiday. Haryana and Himachal Pradesh also list the day, and Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh and Haldighati hold the biggest observances.
Pratap Singh was born at Kumbhalgarh fort, in today's Rajsamand district, to Udai Singh II, the ruler who founded Udaipur, and Jaiwanta Bai. He became Maharana of Mewar in 1572 and spent most of his 25-year reign at war with the Mughal empire, much of it from the forests and hills of the Aravallis. Rajasthan remembers him as the ruler who never accepted Akbar's overlordship, even after losing his capital.
Why isn't Maharana Pratap Jayanti on 9 May?
There are two dates in circulation, and both have a reason.
The tithi date is the one Rajasthan uses. Mewar tradition places his birth on Jyeshtha Shukla Tritiya, the third day of the waxing moon in Jyeshtha, in Vikram Samvat 1597. Because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar, that tithi lands anywhere from late May to late June. The Rajasthan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh holiday lists follow it, and so do most temples and community groups in Mewar.
The calendar date is 9 May 1540, which is what you will see in school books and in tributes from national leaders on 9 May. That date is in the old Julian calendar, which Europe still used in 1540. Converted to the modern Gregorian calendar it becomes about 19 May, and some reference works give 18 or 19 May for that reason. None of the three is wrong. They are the same day counted three ways.
The life behind the day
- 1540 · KumbhalgarhBirth
Eldest son of Udai Singh II and Jaiwanta Bai, born in the hill fort his ancestor Rana Kumbha built.
- 1572 · GogundaCrowned
Udai Singh had named a younger son, Jagmal, as heir, but the senior nobles of Mewar backed Pratap, and he was crowned at Gogunda on Holi.
- 1576 · HaldighatiThe battle
A Mughal army under Man Singh of Amber met Pratap's forces in a narrow pass near Khamnor. The Mughals held the field; Pratap escaped, wounded.
- 1576 to 1585 · The hillsYears of resistance
Mughal campaigns took Gogunda, Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh. Pratap moved through the Aravallis and fought raids rather than open battles.
- After 1585 · ChavandMewar regained
As Mughal pressure eased, he took back most of Mewar except Chittor and held court at Chavand, where a school of painting grew up.
- 19 January 1597 · ChavandDeath
He died aged 56, reportedly after an injury. His son Amar Singh I succeeded him.
Haldighati, fought on 18 June 1576, is the part of the story most people know. The pass takes its name from its yellow soil, said to look like turmeric, or haldi. Historians agree the Mughals won the day and that they failed in their real aim, which was to capture or kill Pratap. The historian Rima Hooja is often quoted on this point. In 2017 there was a public argument in Rajasthan over textbooks claiming Pratap won the battle; most historians reject that reading, and you don't need it to admire him.
It also helps to know who fought on which side. Pratap's vanguard was led by Hakim Khan Sur and his Afghan horsemen. The Bhil chief Rana Punja brought archers who knew the hills. Akbar's army was commanded by a Rajput, Man Singh of Amber. This was a contest over who would rule Mewar, not a war between faiths, and a respectful message should not turn it into one.
Three other names come up every year. Chetak, his horse, is said in popular tradition to have carried him wounded out of the battle before dying; the historian Jadunath Sarkar thought some of the horse's feats were exaggerated, but the story is loved, and a memorial stands near the pass. Jhala Man put on the Maharana's royal emblems so the Mughals would chase him instead, and was killed. Bhamashah, a Jain merchant and minister, gave his fortune to keep Pratap's army going in the hard years.
How Rajasthan marks the day
In Udaipur the focus is the Moti Magri memorial above Fateh Sagar lake, where a large statue of Pratap on Chetak stands. The Maharana Pratap Smarak Samiti holds a puja there, bands play, and families come through the day. Towns across Mewar hold processions with portraits of Pratap on horseback.
Kumbhalgarh, where he was born, and the Haldighati pass, with its museum and the Chetak memorial, draw visitors on the day. Schools in Rajasthan hold speeches, poems and essay contests on his life. Rajput and other community organisations in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand hold their own events, and in recent years the Prime Minister and other leaders have posted tributes on 9 May.
What to write
Keep the tone proud and plain. Speak of courage, self-respect and keeping your word, the qualities people actually remember him for. "Naman" or "shat shat naman", a hundred salutations, is the most common Hindi phrase on the day. "Khamma ghani", the Rajasthani greeting, works as an opener for anyone from the state.
Khamma ghani. Thinking of Moti Magri and the whole city out for Maharana Pratap Jayanti today. Warm wishes to you and everyone at home.
Maharana Pratap Jayanti greetings, Papa and Maa. You told us the Chetak story at bedtime, and today the kids heard it from me.
Warm wishes on Maharana Pratap Jayanti. A good day to remember a ruler who lost his capital and still refused to give up on his land.
Today is Maharana Pratap's birthday. He kept fighting for Mewar for 25 years, even when he had to live in the forest. Be brave like him.
Missing Mewar today? Maharana Pratap Jayanti greetings from all of us. Next year, Haldighati together.
Maharana Pratap Jayanti par unhe shat shat naman. (A hundred salutations to him on Maharana Pratap Jayanti.)
महाराणा प्रताप जयंती पर वीर शिरोमणि को शत-शत नमन। (A hundred salutations to the bravest of the brave on Maharana Pratap Jayanti.)
Khamma ghani sa. Maharana Pratap Jayanti ri ghani ghani badhai. (Greetings. Many good wishes on Maharana Pratap Jayanti.)
Do
- Mention the people who stood with him: Bhil archers, Hakim Khan Sur, Bhamashah.
- Use the June tithi date for anything tied to Rajasthan, such as office leave or school events.
Avoid
- Don't frame the day as Hindu against Muslim; both armies were mixed, and the dispute was over Mewar's independence.
- Avoid claiming he "won" Haldighati in a message; it starts arguments and misses why he is admired.
Rajasthan's own foundation is marked on Rajasthan Day. Another ruler remembered for holding out against an empire is honoured on Shivaji Jayanti. For other dates, see the 2027 calendar.
How to wish someone on Maharana Pratap Jayanti
A good Maharana Pratap Jayanti message is proud but quiet. Pay tribute to his refusal to give up Mewar, his years in the hills, and the people who stood with him, from Bhil archers to the merchant Bhamashah. "Shat shat naman" suits the day better than party language. For a Rajasthani friend, a line about Udaipur or a "Khamma ghani" greeting is warm. Keep it about courage and self-respect, not about any community.
Write a few lines in your own words, pick a design and share it as one link on WhatsApp, Instagram or anywhere else. They open an animated card made just for them, with no app and no sign-up.
Language tip: English, Hindi + Rajasthani.
When is Maharana Pratap Jayanti in each year?
Maharana Pratap Jayanti is set by the Hindu lunisolar calendar, so it falls on a different date each year. In 2027 it falls 10 days earlier than in 2026.
- 2026
- 2027
- 2028
Frequently asked questions
When is Maharana Pratap Jayanti in 2027?
Maharana Pratap Jayanti 2027 falls on Monday, 7 June 2027.
Why do some people celebrate Maharana Pratap Jayanti on 9 May and others in June?
Maharana Pratap was born on 9 May 1540 by the Julian calendar, which is the date used in many textbooks. Rajasthan and Mewar tradition mark his birth on the Hindu tithi, Jyeshtha Shukla Tritiya, which falls in late May or June each year, and the state holiday follows the tithi.
Where was Maharana Pratap born?
Maharana Pratap was born at Kumbhalgarh fort in present-day Rajsamand district, Rajasthan. He was the eldest son of Udai Singh II, the founder of Udaipur, and Jaiwanta Bai.
Who won the Battle of Haldighati?
The Mughal army under Man Singh of Amber held the field at Haldighati on 18 June 1576, so most historians count it as a Mughal victory. Maharana Pratap escaped, wounded, and the Mughals failed to capture him, which is why many call it a hollow win for Akbar.
What happened to Chetak, Maharana Pratap's horse?
In the traditional account, Chetak was badly wounded at Haldighati and carried Maharana Pratap to safety before collapsing and dying. A memorial to Chetak stands near the Haldighati pass in Rajsamand district.
How do you wish someone on Maharana Pratap Jayanti in Hindi?
The usual Hindi wish is "Maharana Pratap Jayanti par shat shat naman", which means a hundred salutations on his birth anniversary. "Maharana Pratap Jayanti ki hardik shubhkamnayein" also works for friends and colleagues.
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