Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde performs rituals, prays at Vitthal Rukmini Temple on 'Ashadi Ekadashi'
Shinde performed the consecration of Lord Vitthal and Goddess Rukmini with milk.
Addressing reporters, Shinde extended his greetings on the occasion and stated that the government has allocated Rs 25 crore for the temple's redevelopment.
'I wish the people of Maharashtra on the occasion of 'Ashadi Ekadashi'. Excitement can be witnessed among the Panduranga's devotees. Warkari community from all parts of Maharashtra visit Pandharpur to get a 'darshan' of Lord Panduranga and Mata Rukmai,' he said.
Shinde told reporters, 'I prayed Panduranga to bless everyone and for the prosperity of the state...farmers, Warkari, Ladki Bahin and Ladka Bhau. This is an ancient temple, and the government has given a fund of Rs 25 crore for its redevelopment, and soon the devotees will get better facilities.'
Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare wished the public on the auspicious occasion.
'Eknath Shinde said that Pandurang's blessing will be on all Ladki Bahin and Ladke Bhau, and we are giving good wishes from Shiv Sena to everybody in Mumbai and Maharashtra,' Waghmare told ANI.
Speaking about Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray sharing one stage on Saturday as part of their 'victory rally', Waghmare said that Uddhav Thackeray is desperate to join hands with the MNS chief as his party is on a verge of extinction in the state.
'If you see Raj Thackeray's speech, he believes in Marathi, but if you see Uddhav Thackeray's speech, it was only directed at power and government. Maharashtra's public understood that Uddhav Thackeray is desperate to join hands with Raj, as his party is on the verge of extinction. All corporators from Mumbai and MLAs are with us and the Marathi people believe in Eknath Shinde, that's why we won 60 out of 80 seats we fought on. Shiv Sena got more than 80 lakh votes. Eknath Shinde is taking forward Balasaheb Thackeray's thoughts, so the public is with us,' he said.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande termed today as an auspicious day for the Sanatan dharma.
'Today is Ashadi Ekadashi, and thousands of devotees have reached Pandharpur. Today is an auspicious day for Sanatan dharma, and people from all religions and castes are visiting Pandharpur,' Kayande told ANI.
On the 'victory rally', Kayande said, 'It is good that a family that was separated is uniting.'
Speaking to ANI, Prasad Lad called for a Hindutva Nation and targeted Uddhav Thackeray over his 'victory rally'.
Lad said, 'Today is a festival for Hindus, Maharashtra and the whole nation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis did pooja at Pandharpur, and Dy CM Shinde prayed at Prati Pandharpur. We pray that India becomes a Hindutva Nation.'
'The public has understood the truth behind Uddhav Thackeray's act of helplessness. I pray Lord Vitthal to give him a good sense and the 'green sheet' he is wearing turns into saffron,' he added.
Earlier on Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with his family, took part in the vibrant Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations at the Shree Vitthal Rukmini Temple in Pandharpur.
Speaking after the rituals, CM Fadnavis said, 'The 'Wari' is a very joyous moment. It unites the devotee and God. The energy of both joins together, and a new energy is created. I came here to experience that energy... Today, all our companions got the opportunity to offer this Puja together.'
Reflecting on his spiritual sentiments, he added, 'As far as Vitthal Bhagwan and Pandurang Bhagwan are concerned, we do not have to ask anything from them because they know what is in everyone's mind. I have asked him to give us strength for the progress of our Maharashtra and give us the strength to walk on the right path. May our farmers get good harvests.' (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
11 minutes ago
- Time of India
Studying in one's mother tongue instils strong values: CJI Gavai
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Gavai on Sunday stated that studying in one's mother tongue enhances conceptual understanding and instils strong values for life, as he reminisced about his student days at a Marathi-medium school in Mumbai. The CJI visited classrooms at his alma mater, Chikitsak Samuh Shirodkar School , and interacted with his old classmates. Having studied from primary to secondary levels at this very institution, he expressed deep gratitude to the teachers who shaped his early life, an official release stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo "Whatever position I have reached today, my teachers and this school have played a significant role in it. The education and values I received here gave direction to my life. My journey in public speaking began on this very stage. Through speech competitions and cultural programs, I gained confidence. It is because of those opportunities that I am what I am today," he said. Recalling his schooling in Marathi-medium, the CJI stated that studying in one's mother tongue helps in better conceptual understanding, and also instils strong values that stay with you for life. Live Events He visited the classrooms, library, and art section of the school, interacting warmly with his old classmates and reliving fond memories. The CJI felt proud and deeply emotional after the heartfelt tribute given by the students, the release stated. PTI
Scroll.in
17 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
Maharashtra minister compares assaults on non-Marathi speakers in state to Pahalgam terror attack
Maharashtra minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashish Shelar on Sunday drew a parallel between the recent attacks on non-Marathi speakers in the state and the terror attack in Jammu Kashmir's Pahalgam which left 26 persons dead. He said that in both incidents, Hindus were targeted. 'In Pahalgam, people were killed because of their religion,' PTI quoted Shelar as saying at a press conference in Mumbai. 'Here in Maharashtra, Hindus are being assaulted only because of the language they speak. What's the difference?' During the attack on April 22, the terrorists at Baisaran had targeted tourists after asking their names to ascertain their religion. All but three of those killed were Hindu. Shelar's remarks came a week after seven unidentified persons, believed to be members of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, assaulted a shopkeeper in Thane district for not speaking in Marathi. On Saturday, suspected workers of the party also vandalised the Mumbai office of entrepreneur Sushil Kedia, a day after he posted on social media that he had lived in the city for 30 years without learning Marathi 'properly'. #WATCH | Mumbai: On Marathi language row, Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar says, "All these incidents cause pain, suffering, and mental distress. In Pahalgam, they shot them after asking about their religion. And here they beat up the innocent Hindus just because of the… — ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2025 The incidents took place amid an escalating row in Maharashtra, triggered by the state government's move to make Hindi a 'generally' taught third language for Class 1 to Class 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. On June 29, the government withdrew the resolution following widespread backlash. Shelar added that the BJP-led government in the state would protect both Marathi pride and the rights of non-Marathi residents. The minister, without naming anyone, also said that some leaders were enjoying how 'Hindus' are being assaulted, PTI reported. 'Marathi is not a political issue for us,' the news agency quoted him as saying. The BJP leader also criticised the recent show of unity between former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and his cousin Raj Thackeray, calling it an 'opportunistic alliance'. On Saturday, the two leaders held a ' victory rally ' to celebrate the rollback of the government order on the three-language policy.
India Today
20 minutes ago
- India Today
KTR accepts Revanth Reddy's challenge to debate on Telangana farmers' issues
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao has accepted Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's challenge for a public debate on farmers' issues. Rao, popularly known as KTR, said he was ready to confront the Chief Minister anywhere, anytime and dared him to fix the date, time and came after Reddy demanded KTR to have a debate with him on farmers' aim at Reddy, KTR alleged the Chief Minister lacked basic knowledge about agriculture and governance. "I am giving him 72 hours to prepare so that he doesn't end up embarrassing himself by mistaking a basin for a vegetable. This is for his own good," KTR remarked sarcastically while speaking to reporters. Asserting he was ready for the debate, KTR offered to meet at any location chosen by the Chief Minister - whether in Reddy's own constituency of Kodangal, his native village Kondareddypally, or even at the Ambedkar statue or Somajiguda Press Club in Hyderabad. "This is not about mudslinging. Let's put the facts out there. Let's see who really worked for Telangana's farmers," he accused Reddy of betraying Telangana by diverting the state's water to Andhra Pradesh, and claimed that the Chief Minister was acting under the influence of TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. "Revanth has turned Telangana into an ATM for the Congress high command. He's running a puppet government, not a people's one," he what he called the success of the BRS regime, KTR said that agriculture in Telangana had been transformed into a celebration under K Chandrasekhar Rao's regime. He credited the BRS with initiatives like Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Mission Kakatiya and large-scale irrigation projects that, according to him, turned the state into the top paddy producer in the said during the Covid-19 crisis, the BRS set up thousands of procurement centres to ensure that not a single grain went to waste during its rule."Who brought Godavari water into the dry lands of Telangana? Who revived rivers like Kudelii, Haldi and Manjeera? Who stopped farmer suicides and tackled the fluoride crisis? It was KCR, not the Congress," he further accused the Congress government of failing to deliver on its promises, citing the non-payment of farm loan waivers, pensions and crop support schemes. 'Where is the Rs 15,000 per acre support you promised? Where is the Rs 4,000 pension? What happened to the Rs 2,500 allowance for women, free scooters or the 2 lakh jobs?' he asked."The only people happy today are Revanth and his coterie, looting like the Dandupalya gang. Auto drivers, farmers, young people, the elderly, women - none of them are satisfied. Dalits won't vote for a non-functional Dalit Bandhu scheme. Unemployed people won't vote for jobs that never came. Farmers won't vote for a Bharosa scheme that's still pending," he to KTR, every major welfare promise made by the Congress had been either been broken or delayed. "Farmers were promised support for three crops - they haven't even supported one fully. While KCR gave Rs 10,000 per acre on time, Revanth gave just one installment and threw a party," he Reddy's administration a "classic Congress drama", KTR said, 'When Congress talks about farmer welfare, it's like ghosts quoting scriptures. This government is an insult to democracy, just like the Indiramma era when people were jailed during the Emergency.'KTR reminded that even the Centre had acknowledged in Parliament that the BRS stopped farmer suicides and ended the fluoride crisis in Telangana. "Those who can't understand facts are called fools. Those who knowingly deny them are called Revanth Reddy. The truth is known to every villager, every field in Telangana,' he said.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Telangana#Bharat Rashtra Samithi#Indian National Congress
