‘Vitthala’, ‘Mauli’ ring across Pune as palkhis enter city

Pune: Close to six lakh warkaris (pilgrims) arrived in Pune on Monday with the ‘paduka’ (footwear) of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj despite their pending farm works and scorching heat in the firm belief that Lord Vitthala will take care of all problems.
Chants of ‘Dnyanaba, Tukaram’, ‘Vitthal Vitthal’ and ‘Mauli, Mauli’ reverberated through the air amid the sound of cymbals and other traditional instruments played by members of the dindis (groups of warkaris).
The Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi procession resumed its journey at the Gandhi wada in Alandi to the city on Monday morning. At the same time, the Sant Tukaram Maharaj palkhi, which had taken an overnight halt at the Vitthal temple in Akurdi on Sunday, began its journey around 7am.
At 5.30pm, the procession of Sant Tukaram Maharaj arrived at the Patil Estate amidst chanting of hymns. People peered down from the bridge, showering flowers over the passing palkhi, while those below tried to get closer to seek blessings.
The Sant Dynaneshwar palkhi arrived at the College of Engineering Pune chowk around 6.45pm. A crowd of devotees were waiting to welcome the procession.
Some women warkaris held aloft idols of Lord Vitthal and Rukmini, while many carried tulsi plants.
Fergusson College Road bore a devotional look and was a sea of saffron flags. Volunteers and citizens distributed packets of food and fruits to the warkaris. Most onlookers were dressed in traditional attire and clicked selfies with the pilgrims.
A special pandal was set up on FC Road for G-20 delegates, who were clad as warkaris. They enjoyed the gathering of the large number of devotees and traditions of the state.
The Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi arrived at the Sant Tukaram Paduka Chowk and aarti was performed around 6.30pm. The palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar made its way to the chowk named on the saint himself and prayers were offered around 7.30pm.
Sanjay More, a trustee of the Jagatguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj temple trust, said, “Warkaris from across the state are participating in a large number. We were expecting fewer people due to the delayed monsoon, but pilgrims with faith in Vitthala have come in large numbers.”
The two palkhis will rest in Pune on Monday and Tuesday nights — Sant Tukaram Maharaj palkhi at Nivdunga Vitthal mandir and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi at the Palkhi Vithoba mandir.
On Wednesday morning, the Sant Tukaram Maharaj palkhi will resume its journey to Pandharpur via Pune—Solapur highway, while the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi will go to Solapur via Saswad, Jejuri, Phaltan to Pandharpur.