India, Feb. 11 -- Shiv Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the iconic 17thcentury ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on February 19, is celebrated in Maharashtra with great fervor and excitement. However, in a view of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Maharashtra government on Thursday announced that this year there will be no rallies or big public gatherings on Shiv Jayanti this year.

The government has urged the people to avoid big public events and asked them to celebrate the occasion in a simple, manner due to the global pandemic.

Shivaji Maharaj was born on February 19, 1630, on the Shivneri fort in the Pune district and people gather on that and other forts in large numbers on the midnight of February 18 every year. The government advisory ...