The celebrations of Vijaidashmi on Ashvin Shukla Dashmi have many royal Mewar traditions attached to it. One of them used to be Ahida ki Shikar, the first hunting expedition in the new hunting season after the rains; to go on important expeditions and to form a strong bond between the Maharana and the nobles, for which a feast used to be organized in the Palace. On this day, the Maharana would dress in white attire, wearing the Amar Shahi pag and worship Shree Pitambaraiji and Shree Nagnechia Mataji. After that, the Maharana would mount his horse from the Pagda ki Hatni in Manek Chowk and go with full Insignias of the state, with an entourage of nobles via Hathi Pol for Khejri Poojan, in now days Madhuban, where there is still a vacant plot there. The place would be in a temporary enclosure with a gate installed at the front; the Maharana would touch the top of the gate symbolically with his sword and before entering the enclosure
to commence the Khejari Poojan.
Before India’s independence on this occasion 100 or 150 guns-salutes were given, but after the merger of Mewar state into the Union of India, the gun-salutes were reduced to 21. On this occasion worshiping of the arrows with recitation of Vedic hymns was performed and they were sent through messengers to the all gate of the City to announce that the Maharana as per the auspicious time is now ready to move in any four direction for pilgrimage or any other travel.
Later the Bards would recite the traditional eulogy in presence of the Maharanas in the court for which they were given some reward. Before the court was dispersed, the Maharana would distribute betel bidas to nobles, indicating that they could now leave. The Maharana would mount his royal elephant and return to the Palace. On this occasion, a court was also held at Nahron ka Darikhana inside the Palace in Manek Chowk.
