Jauhar Day in Fort Chittorgarh

The greatest jewel in history is when thousands of Kshatranis committed self-immolation along with Rani Padmini on 26th Aug, 1303:

Alauddin Khilji captured the Chittorgarh fort exactly 720 years ago. Before he entered the fort, the Queen of Chittorgarh with thousands of Kshatranis jumped into the Jauhar Kund and embraced the fire. Rani Padmini committed jauhar to safeguard her own honor and that of the royal Kshatriya women, knowing a fate of enslavement, rape and worse awaited them if they were captured by the Muslim armies.

At the time, the Sultanate of Delhi was occupied by Alauddin Khilji. It is said that when Khilji conquered the Chittorgarh fort, Rani Padmini, along with thousands of Kshatranis, jumped into the Jauhar Kund and immolated themselves. Even today the Jauhar Kund still exists in the Chittorgarh Fort. According to historians, 26th August 1303 was the date of this event, although Malik Mohammad Jaisi mentioned it in Padmaavat as the year 1540.

Rani Padmini’s original name was Padmavati, she was the daughter of the King of Sinhaladwip. She became the Queen of Chittorgarh after her marriage to Raja Ratan Singh. It is said that Rani Padmini was very beautiful, hearing the stories of her beauty Alauddin Khilji marched to Chittorgarh so that he could meet Rani Padmini. However, there are differences among historians regarding this fact. The main reason for Khilji’s invasion was not Rani Padmini, but the fort of Chittorgarh, because this fort was of great commercial importance. The routes to Gujarat, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, Sindh etc used to originate from Chittorgarh. Khilji assumed the Sultanate of Delhi after his uncle Jalaluddin Khilji was assassinated. However, his reign was full of challenges, as Hindu and Rajput rulers were constantly rebelling. In such a situation, Khilji moved to Chittorgarh to suppress the Rajput rulers. Some historians believe that Khilji invaded Chittorgarh only for Queen Padmini, but other historians dispute this fact.

Jauhar Kund at the Chiitorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh Fort was strong but Alauddin Khilji had a huge army. When he came to Delhi, he had no idea that there would be such a struggle at Chittorgarh. Even Khilji’s army could not enter the fort. His army camped outside the fort continuously for six months and blocked the road to Awaza. During this time neither food nor drink could come from outside nor could anyone go out.

As time passed, the logistics within the fort were diminishing. In such a situation, King Ratan Singh declared war to protect the people. Raja Ratan Singh bravely fought against Khilji, but the Rajput army could not withstand the forces. According to historians, before Khilji entered the fort, this Queen Padmini and thousands of married Kshatranis had committed jauhar.