Indore to Host Three-Day Celebration for 300th Birth Anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar

By: WE staff | Saturday, 10 May 2025

• May 29 to 31 will be a three-day celebration to commemorate the birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar by 300 years
• The Union Ministry of Culture is organizing the celebration
• The tournament will be held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh

On the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, the Union Ministry of Culture will host a grand three-day function from May 29 to 31. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will also join the celebration.

The celebrations will span across cities such as Indore, Maheshwar, and Varanasi, highlighting Devi Ahilyabai’s legacy of good governance, women’s empowerment, and public welfare. In preparation for the event, a virtual meeting was held on Friday, attended by Indore Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh.

Principal Secretary of Culture Shiv Shekhar Shukla said that to celebrate the occasion, the Madhya Pradesh government will organize a cabinet meeting on May 20 at the historic Rajwada Palace in Indore. Highlights of the three-day festival include a grand conference for women entrepreneurs, where women empowered by self-help groups and small-scale industries will be invited. A stage drama based on the life and achievements of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai will be enacted.

Additional features of the festival include a painting exhibition showcasing her contributions to the construction of wells, stepwells, dharamshalas, and temple restorations in Indore, Maheshwar, and Varanasi. A teaser of an upcoming film on Devi Ahilyabai’s life will also be presented.

Shiv Shekhar also informed that precious manuscripts recording her life and work are being collected for exhibition during the event. Her lectures on exemplary governance will be included in the programme.

Cultural figures, artists, and scholars are expected to take part in the celebrations. Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh noted that while various social organizations have traditionally celebrated Ahilyabai’s birth anniversary, this year’s events—supported by the Union Ministry of Culture—promise to be more vibrant and far-reaching.