Indore Pride Day | 02 Jun 2023

Why in News?

On 31 May 2023, 'Indore Gaurav Diwas' was celebrated on the occasion of the birthday of Lokmata Ahilya Bai at a ceremony held at Nehru Stadium in Indore, the cleanest city of India and the financial capital of Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points:

• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the works of Umang Park to be built by Indore Municipal Corporation and the incubation centre set up by Indore Development Authority for the support of startups. He also released the resolution paper of solar city and inaugurated tree ambulance.
• It is known that 298 years ago on this day in 1767, Devi Ahilya Bai was born. Therefore, in his honour, the whole city celebrates this day as Pride Day.
• Devi Ahilyabai Holkar was the wife of Khanderao, the son of the famous empress of the Maratha Empire and the famous Subedar Malharrao Holkar.
• In 1754, when Khanderao attained martyrdom in the battle, father-in-law Malharrao Holkar handed over the command of the Holkar Empire to Ahilya Devi.
• Ahilya Devi's name is taken with respect, for the renovation and reconstruction of temples during her reign of 28 years. He built about 65 temples, Dharamshalas not only in her state but all over India.
• Apart from this, roads, wells, ponds, bawdis, ghats and water tanks were built with basic facilities. While living in Maheshwar, she built Dharamshalas in remote places of the country, such as Amarkantak, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Ayodhya, Gangotri, Pushkar, Mathura, Rameshwar and Haridwar.
• It is worth mentioning that Indore is the only city in India where both the Indian Institute of Management (IIM Indore) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Indore) are located.