Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar Crowned 77th Maharana of Mewar Amidst Family Dispute

Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar was anointed the 77th Maharana of the erstwhile kingdom of Mewar in a ceremonial function at City Palace's Rai Angan courtyard, Udaipur. The Gaddi Utsav, a traditional enthronement ceremony performed with great rites including a havan, was attended by dignitaries such as his father-in-law, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, and noted poet Shailesh Lodha, while the head priest, Vagishkumar Goswami, performed Gaddi Puja and placed the ceremonial tilak on Mewar's forehead as a symbol of his ascension. 

The new ascension followed the death of Arvind Singh Mewar on March 16, 2025. The Maharana, as head of the Sisodia clan of Rajputs, is respected as Diwan or hereditary high priest of Shree Eklingji, the patron deity of the House of Mewar. 

Yet, the coronation is not without dissent. A rival claim to the title has grown from Lakshyaraj's cousin, Vishvaraj Singh Mewar. In November 2024, he was proclaimed the 77th Maharana by a faction of the family at Fateh Prakash Palace, Chittorgarh Fort. The dispute began with the demise of Bhagwat Singh Mewar in 1984 and has since seen claims by Arvind Singh Mewar and his brother, Mahendra Singh Mewar, to be the custodians of the House of Mewar. Evidently, such contention has led to public quarrels at times, exhibiting the deep rifts within the family. 

It is critical to note that all titles and privileges of erstwhile princely states were abolished under the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India in 1971, after which the title of Maharana has since retained only symbolic significance, representative of the culture and heritage of the Mewar dynasty. 

As the Mewar family embarks upon welcome opportunities for reconciliation, the Maharana's symbolic title places an onus on Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar to ensure that all family disputes are reconciled so that unity and tradition of a glorious past can flourish in the present.