On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan on 28th August 2026, a historic bond was rekindled at The City Palace, Udaipur as representatives of the Rajpurohit community from five Marwar villages-Ghenari, Pilovani, Vandar, Rungdi and Shivtalav-tied traditional Rakhis to Shriji Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar and his family. The emotional gesture revived an ancient, heartfelt relationship between the Mewar royal family and these communities that had been dormant for nearly three centuries.

The deep connection dates back to the Battle of Haldighati, where Narayan Das Rajpurohit fought alongside Maharana Pratap and attained martyrdom. In honor of his sacrifice, Maharana Pratap granted these five villages as a Jagir (fiefdom) to his descendants.

Historically, the women and daughters of these five villages sent Rakhis to The City Palace, Udaipur every year, while the Palace reciprocated by sending traditional Chundris (tie-dye scarves). However, after the Palace stopped sending Chundris, the village women continued sending Rakhis for 30 years. Feeling unacknowledged, the women eventually pledged alongside village elders that no Rajpurohit would visit the Palace until formally invited, causing the tradition to fade for nearly 300 years.

Taking the initiative to heal and honor history, Shriji Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar extended a formal invitation to revive the sacred tradition. Warmly welcoming the representatives, Shriji offered his Raksha Bandhan greetings and reaffirmed the timeless values of trust, respect and brotherhood.

Community representatives noted that tying the Rakhi was more than a gesture; it restored a historical legacy for future generations and reaffirmed the enduring kinship between the Udaipur City Palace and the descendants of its loyal commanders.