Centuries-Old Tradition Broken: 13-Year-Old Becomes 1st Female Heir To Erstwhile Royal Family In 'Paag Ka Dastoor' Ceremony In Rajasthan

Jaipur: A centuries-old royal tradition has been broken in Rajasthan, with the declaration of 13-year-old Tejaswi Kumari Jodha as the heir to a erstwhile royal family in Pali district. Notably, Jodha, who has broken the strictly male-only lineage custom of Kherwagarh, is a Class 7 student.

Jodha was formally declared the heir at a traditional ‘Paag Ka Dastoor’ ceremony, which was performed for a female for the first time. Tejaswi Kumari Jodha was anointed the position following the the death of her father, Thakur Harishchandra Singh Jodha of ‘Kherwa’, who passed away at the age of 71 following prolonged illness.

Because the family had no male heir, the 17th century Kherwa Fort had not hosted the formal succession ceremony in nearly 65 years.

However, following Harishchandra Singh Jodha's demise, community elders collectively agreed to name her sole child, Tejaswi, as the rightful successor.

The ‘Paag Ka Dastoor’ Ceremony

At the ‘Paag Ka Dastoor’ ceremony, Tejaswi Jodha sat through the proceedings as Vedic chants filled the air, watched by hundreds of villagers who had come to witness the progressive moment.

She was made to wear a pink turban, that signified the end of mourning period.

Further, according to traditions, the Rajpurohit of the village cut his thumb on the blade of a sword and applied ‘blood tilak’ on Jodha's forehead.

The Curse Of Jorji Champawat

Local legend holds that the Kherwagarh family is haunted by the curse of Rajput warrior Jorji Champawat. After his maternal cousin from Kherwagarh betrayed and killed him, Champawat exacted a final vengeance. He laid a dying curse of his betrayers' family, stating that the Kherwagarhs will have no male heir.

Notably, Tejaswi Jodha's father Harishchandra Singh was also adopted by the erstwhile royal family due to the lack of a male heir.

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