Pune: Poonam Sagar Shirwalkar, daughter-in-law of retired principal Pandurang Shirwalkar from Saswad (Purandar), has launched Shivparayan in the United States to commemorate Shiv Jayanti. The event, which began on January 31, will continue for 21 days until February 19, coinciding with the celebration of Shiv Jayanti. The project has garnered a strong response from the Marathi community in the U.S., with many participants joining in.

The Brihan Maharashtra Mandal in the U.S. regularly organizes various events to promote Marathi culture and language. This includes Marathi schools designed to teach children about Marathi language and culture.

To further these efforts, the Mandal has launched an online school project that brings together various Marathi schools. Poonam Shirwalkar has been instrumental in organizing and planning these events, with guidance from Prasad Panwalkar, the president of the Mandal, and Rahul Deshmukh, president of the school section. This online initiative is proving to be highly effective in engaging the community.

As part of her ongoing efforts, Shirwalkar took the initiative to begin the Shivparayan on January 31. The event is centered around teaching Marathi children about the life and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Hindu King, revered by millions. This is the third year in a row that the Shivparayan has been conducted around Shiv Jayanti, and it has become a significant cultural event for the community.

The event involves the recitation of Shri Man Yogi, a popular novel by renowned Marathi author Ranjit Desai, which narrates the life of Shivaji Maharaj. Over the years, several Marathi artists, writers, and lyricists have participated in this Shivparayan, making it an enriching cultural experience. Notable participants in this year's event include Kshitij Patwardhan, Dr. Shweta Pendse, Rahul Solapurkar, and Sankarshan Karhade, who have all praised the event for its educational and cultural value.