Ahmednagar will become Ahilya Nagar, according to a statement made on Wednesday by the Maharashtra government, headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Ahmednagar district in western Maharashtra will be renamed after Ahilyadevi Holkar, the famous Maratha Empire queen of the 18th century, according to CM Shinde. In India, the Holkar Queen of the Maratha Malwa kingdom is credited with constructing numerous temples and “Dharamshala,” or public rest areas.
Speaking at an event to commemorate Ahilyadevi’s (also known as Ahilya Bai) 298th birthday in the district’s Choundi hamlet, where she was born, CM Shinde made this declaration.
The ideal system of governance established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Ahilyadevi Holkar informs how the government operates. He also mentions that he has therefore chosen to rename (the district) after Ahilyadevi Holkar in accordance with the public wishes, said CM Shinde in his speech.
Along with CM Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar, and many more officials were present at the ceremony.
Without Rajamata Ahilyadevi Holkar, Kashi wouldn’t have thrived. Shiva temples wouldn’t have existed without her. People want Ahmednagar to be renamed Ahilyanagar for this reason, said Deputy CM Fadnavis.
The BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena coalition administration was referred to as “Hindutva” by the deputy chief minister.
Ahilya Nagar must replace Ahmednagar as the name of the city. Following widespread demand, Aurangabad and Osmanabad have had their names changed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Following that, the public is calling for Ahmednagar to be renamed Ahilya Nagar, a BJP MLC mentioned.
The coalition government of the Shiv Sena (Shinde group) and Bharatiya Janata Party renamed Aurangabad as “Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar” and Osmanabad as “Dharashiv” earlier this year. The two cities were renamed after the Maharashtra government’s application to alter the names of Aurangabad and Osmanabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv, respectively, was granted by the Centre.
The district of Ahmednagar will soon be referred to as “Ahilya Nagar” in official documents, honoring the efforts of Ahilyadevi Holkar.