Blood 'Tilak', Royal Turban: 13-Year-Old Girl Named Successor To 400-Year-Old Rajput Legacy

Published 26 June 2026 · india

Blood 'Tilak', Royal Turban: 13-Year-Old Girl Named Successor To 400-Year-Old Rajput Legacy Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 17:49 IST Tejaswi Kumari Jodha, 13

Blood 'Tilak', Royal Turban: 13-Year-Old Girl Named Successor To 400-Year-Old Rajput Legacy Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 17:49 IST Tejaswi Kumari Jodha, 13, is declared heir to Kherwagarh in Rajasthan under "Paag Ka Dastoor", breaking male only tradition. Tejaswi received a pink turban sent on behalf of former Jodhpur-Marwar ruler Gaj Singh. In a significant departure from centuries-old Rajput traditions, 13-year-old Tejaswi Kumari Jodha was ceremonially declared the heir to Kherwagarh in Rajasthan’s Pali district following the death of her father, Harish Chandra Jodha. The investiture was carried out under the long-standing custom of “Paag Ka Dastoor", in which a ceremonial turban symbolising succession is presented by the erstwhile royal family of Jodhpur. During the ritual at the historic Kherwa Fort, Tejaswi received a pink turban sent on behalf of former Jodhpur-Marwar ruler Gaj Singh. In keeping with tradition, a Rajpurohit cut his finger with a sword and applied a blood tilak to her forehead, NDTV reported.

Folklore Speaks Of A Century-Old Curse The ceremony marked a historic first for the region, where the ritual has traditionally been reserved for sons. The Kherwagarh family had not observed the custom for 65 years due to the absence of a male heir. Village elders ultimately decided that Tejaswi, the only child of Harish Chandra Jodha, would inherit the family’s legacy. Rajasthani folklore surrounding Kherwagarh adds an intriguing dimension. Legend has it that the family of Kherwagarh was cursed by Jorji Champawat., Jorji Champawat, who was allegedly betrayed and killed by a relative from Kherwagarh between 1873 and 1895, cursed the family before his death, declaring that it would never again have a male successor. Since 1895, the family has reportedly had no male heir. Tejaswi Kumari Jodha is the only daughter of Harish Chandra Jodha, who was himself adopted into the Kherwagarh family due to the absence of a male heir.

Class 7 Student Vows To Fulfil Father’s Dream Pushpendra Singh of neighbouring Auwa village said community elders chose Tejaswi as the heir after the death of her 78-year-old father, who had no son. He said the decision to perform the traditional turban ceremony and blood tilak for a girl reflected changing times and a collective resolve to break with age-old customs in favour of gender equality. Meanwhile, Tejaswi, a Class 7 student, told the news outlet that she is focused on her studies and hopes to fulfil her late father’s dreams for the village. “I am studying in Class 7. My focus is on my studies, and I will try to live up to people’s expectations and fulfil the dreams of development that my father had for his village," Tejaswi said. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk.