Jyoti at Chittor’s Jauhar Temple Still Burns for Rani Padmini

The Quint, which is on tour to Chittorgarh, caught up with some Padmavati protesters to understand their demands.

Padmini Mahal in the middle of the lake.

(Photo: Athar Rather/The Quint)

About a kilometre away from Raja Ratan Singh's infamous and now controversial Chittorgarh fort, is the Jauhar Jyoti Mandir. According to the villagers, a "jyoti" has been lit at this very site since Rani Padmini committed Jauhar to "protect Rajput honour" from the hands of Alauddin Khilji.

Centuries later, the Jauhar Jyoti Mandir has gained significance again, thanks to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Padmavati, which has proved controversial.

The town, which has been the epicentre of protests against the release of the film, has seen men and women taking to the streets, to different parts of the town including the mandir to express their "displeasure".

The Quint, which is on tour to Chittorgarh, caught up with some protesters to understand their demands, the logic behind their protests and their understanding of history.

When asked what their objections to the film were, women said in unison that "everything from the storyline to Ghoomar" were portrayed with a sense of "distortion". They added that while this was not a "Hindu-Muslim" issue, nothing would satisfy them other than a nationwide ban on the film.

Both men and women from Chittorgarh have been protesting in large numbers against the release of the film for the last 26 days – and they say that they will not stop until their demands are met.

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