Ashwa Poojan is celebrated at The Manek Chowk
The Ashwa Poojan ceremony was held at The Manek Chowk in The City Palace Complex, Udaipur on the 5th October. Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur, 76th Custodian of the House of Mewar arrived in a 1905 vintage 'English Royal Landau Six-in-Hand'. The royal carriage was purchased during the sovereignty of Maharana Fateh Singh ji (1884-1930) from Dykes & Co., Calcutta.

The 'Marwar' horses, which took part in this year's ceremony are an internationally recognised ' breed. The salient characteristics of this breed are that they are extremely sure footed on hard rocky terrain and equally at ease in the sands of the desert. Beside these versatile features, the Rajput warrior could go into battle day after day, mounted on their horses because of their extraordinary ability to rejuvenate themselves by an overnight rest and a simple sand bath. The horses which participated in this ceremony were selected and bred following the guidelines provided in the ancient text on horse breeding, the Salotar. A Salotar is an encyclopaedia, which encompasses all aspects relating to a horse including breeding, training, grooming, shoeing and veterinary cover. The Navratri festival is celebrated over nine nights and culminates with Dussehra, an important festival for the Rajput warrior as he worships his horse and all his weapons on Dussehra. On the day before Dussehra, the Rajput celebrates his devoted and valiant steed, his most powerful symbol.

During the ceremony prayers are offered to the horse by the Maharana. “The Ashwa Poojan Ceremony or, Worship of the Horse commemorates the bond between the Rajput and the horse and it marks a grand finale to the Navratri festivities at the City Palace in Udaipur” said Deputy Secretary of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Mr. Bhupendra Singh Auwa. It is therefore appropriate that one day in the year is especially dedicated to the horse.

The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) established by His late Highness Maharana Bhagwat Singh ji Mewar in 1969 has been facilitating the development of Udaipur as a heritage-city. In order to maintain its rich cultural customs, festivals like Ashwa Poojan occupy an important place in the calendar of regal festivals organized every year.

This year, the MMCF completes 42 years in service to the people of Udaipur. Education and outreach programmes, health care, heritage preservation and conservation, museum management and preservation of places of religious worship are some of the key activities of the MMCF.

The foundation has instituted annual international and national awards granted for services of a permanent value rendered to society. In addition, MMCF has set up a number of subsidiary trusts for religious and charitable purposes to give assistance to the underprivileged without distinction of caste, creed or religion.