Latest news with #SantDnyaneshwarMaharajPalkhi
Hindustan Times
22-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Entry banned for palkhi darshan from Dive Ghat in Pune
As a preventive measure to check crowding, citizen safety and smooth movement of palkhi procession, the Pune police have prohibited public entry to the Dive Ghat stretch, banning devotees from seeking darshan of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi from the popular viewing point this year. After two days of halt in the city, Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi will start their journey from Pune city towards Pandharpur via Dive Ghat on Sunday morning. (HT FILE) The administration has issued orders restricting access to the ghat area, especially the top section, where large crowds typically gather to witness the palkhi's passage. After two days of halt in the city, Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi will start their journey from Pune city towards Pandharpur via Dive Ghat on Sunday morning. Rajkumar Shinde, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Zone 5, said, 'Every year thousands of devotees gather at Dive Ghat. As road work is going on by the National Highways of India (NHAI) and the weather department has issued a heavy rainfall alert to Pune and ghat region for Sunday, we have restricted entry.' According to Shinde, a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 has been issued and violators will face legal action. Authorities have appealed to citizens to cooperate with the restrictions and opt for alternate arrangements to follow the palkhi procession through designated areas or digital platforms. Every year, lakhs of devotees participate in the wari tradition, walking alongside the palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj en route to Pandharpur. Dive Ghat, due to its elevated terrain and scenic view, had become a popular spot for locals to view the procession — often leading to traffic jams, overcrowding, and security concerns.
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
City reverberates with sound of cymbals and drums as it welcomes palkhis
PUNE The annual Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi processions arrived in Pune on Friday amid huge fanfare including the chanting of bhajans by lakhs of Warkaris (devotees). With religious chants and playing of traditional instruments, the annual palkhi (palanquin) processions of Sant Tukaram Maharaj (in pic) and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj reached Pune amid intermittent rains on Friday evening. (MAHENDRA KOLHE/HT) So much so that the entire city reverberated with the sound of cymbals and drums accompanied by vigorous chants of 'Dnyanoba Mauli Tukaram'. The Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi arrived from Alandi whereas the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi arrived from Dehu via Pimpri-Chinchwad. Both Palkhis took the old Pune-Mumbai highway, Fergusson College Road and Laxmi Road. Pune municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and all office-bearers welcomed the Palkhi processions to the city. The Warkaris had started arriving in the city Friday morning itself but the main Palkhi processions arrived in the evening. As the processions arrived, many roads in the city were closed since the afternoon which created hurdles for locals to visit the Palkhis and take blessings. Heavy vehicles too were banned by the police, causing traffic snarls on almost all roads leading to the city. Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi will move towards Saswad via Dive Ghat on Sunday. (MAHENDRA KOLHE/HT) Both Palkhis will stay overnight at the Pasodya Vithoba and Nidungya temples located in the Nana Peth area. Both Palkhis will leave the city on Sunday after a two-day halt. They will proceed together till Hadapsar Gadital after which the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi will move towards Solapur Road while the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi will move towards Saswad via Dive Ghat.
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Indian Express
Palkhi procession: Entry on top side of Pune's Dive Ghat banned on June 22
As the annual Palkhi processions are set to enter Pune city limits on Friday, June 20, the city police have banned the entry of people and Warkaris, the devotees of Lord Vittal, on the top side of Dive Ghat Mountain on June 22, to prevent any accidents. Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma on Thursday issued the order as heavy rain is expected in the region when the Palkhi processions would pass through Dive Ghat in Pune. The restriction will be in place from 12 am to 12 pm on June 22, it said. Lakhs of Warkaris will accompany the traditional Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi procession that will pass through the Pune-Solapur Road from Bhairoba Nala to Saswad via Dive Ghat on June 22. Parts of the Dive Ghat Mountain have been dug for road widening, making the Ghat section slippery, the police said. The police said it is not safe for people and the Warkaris to visit the mountain top as the work for widening four kilometers of Dive Ghat road is underway. The police said several people visit the top side of Dive Ghat Mountains for tourism, click photographs, and make reels. Palkhi procession is a major spiritual event in Maharashtra when Warkaris of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj accompany the palanquin carrying the Paduka (sacred footwear) of their revered saints head to Pandharpur in Solapur district on foot. The procession that starts from two points — Alandi and Dehu -– carrying the Paduka of their respective saints took its present grand form in the early 19th century. This year, the pilgrimage concludes on July 6, on Ashadhi Ekadashi.
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
List of traffic closures, diversions as Palkhi processions to enter Pune tomorrow
With the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi processions set to enter Pune city limits on June 20, the city braces for one of its largest spiritual events of the year. The Pune Traffic Police, in collaboration with the Pune Municipal Corporation and other departments, have chalked out an elaborate traffic and parking management plan to ensure smooth passage for lakhs of Warkaris walking towards Pandharpur for Ashadhi Ekadashi on July 7. The processions carry the Paduka (sacred footwear) of the revered saints and are central to Maharashtra's Warkari tradition. While the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi started from Dehu, Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi commenced its journey from Alandi. Officials said a massive operation involving multiple agencies has been activated, not just to manage the pilgrim crowd, but ensure emergency services, civic amenities and urban traffic continue to function with minimal disruption. Traffic closures and diversions (June 20–23) These changes will be effective from June 20, starting at 2:00 am, and will remain until each respective Palkhi exits the specified zones: For the arrival of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Closed route: Kalas Phata to Bopkhel Phata Alternate: Via Dhanori internal roads. Closed route: Mental Hospital Corner to Alandi Junction Alternate: Jail Road and Airport Road. Closed route: Sadalbaba Chowk to Patil Estate Alternate: Via Parnakuti Chowk to Garrison Engineer Square. For the arrival of Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Closed route: Bopodi Chowk to Khadki Bazar Alternate: Via Church Chowk. Closed route: Poultry Farm Chowk Alternate: Railway Police HQ – Aundh Road – Bremen Chowk. Closed Route: Old Mumbai Pune Road (towards Pune) till Engineering College Chowk Alternate: Bhau Patil Road – Aundh Road – Bremen Chowk. Closed route: RTO to Engineering College Chowk Alternate: Shahir Amar Shaikh Chowk – Kumbhar Ves – Jehangir Chowk – Ambedkar Setu. Joint procession route (From June 22, 12 pm) Once both Palkhis converge near Engineering College Chowk, the following roads will be affected: Closed route: Range Hill Chowk to Sancheti Chowk Alternate: Khadki Underpass – Poultry Farm Chowk. Closed route: Khandoji Baba Chowk to Veer Chaphekar Chowk Alternate: Karve Road – Senapati Bapat Road. Closed route: Gadgil Statue to SG Barve Chowk Alternate: Kumbhar Ves – RTO Chowk. Closed route: Deccan Traffic Division to Thopte Path Chowk Alternate: Ghole Road – Apte Road. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed on major Palkhi routes during this period. Signboards indicating diversions have been installed at all entry points, including: Diversion points: Vishrantwadi, Shivajinagar, Bopodi, and Swargate Approach and exit points: Kharadi Bypass, Hadapsar, Phursungi, and Katraj The administration has urged all logistics operators and heavy vehicle drivers to strictly follow route instructions to avoid fines or congestion. Over 719 sanitation points, multiple medical aid centers, fire safety teams, BDDS squads, and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been deployed across Pune. Drones, CCTV cameras, and a joint control command center have been activated to oversee crowd movements and emergency coordination.
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ongoing road-widening work along Dive Ghat may impact Warkari movement during Palkhi procession
The ongoing road-widening work and persistent traffic jams along the Dive Ghat stretch of the Hadapsar-Saswad Palkhi Marg have raised serious concerns ahead of the annual Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi procession from Alandi to Pandharpur. Road-widening work has been underway for the past six months and is expected to continue for at least a year, according to road construction officials. The delay will pose a major challenge with lakhs of Warkaris set to take the Dive Ghat route during the pilgrimage. Even deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has expressed concern over the situation, urging swift action so that the pilgrims are not inconvenienced. Whereas minister of rural development and panchayat raj, Jaykumar Gore, carried out an inspection of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi route including the Dive Ghat stretch and the Saswad Palkhi camp. The minister expressed confidence that the Saswad Palkhi camp is well equipped, and that there will be no issues with respect to the same. For the first time, waterproof tents capable of accommodating up to 5,000 Warkaris at the same time will be set up at various locations. Gore announced that extensive arrangements will be made with respect to bathing and toilet facilities for women during this year's Wari. Taking note of the damage caused by last week's rain at several halting points of the Palkhi, Gore directed the administration to take immediate remedial measures. He said that the primary purpose of the visit was to assess the rain-induced damage and ensure prompt repairs. Gore held a meeting with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), contractor, and government officials during which he issued clear instructions to prioritise the completion of existing work along the Dive Ghat section rather than initiating any new construction activities. He directed that all work be temporarily halted and that proper barricading be carried out to ensure the safety of Warkaris and devotees. The minister ordered that construction be resumed only after the safe passage of the Palkhi procession and Warkaris and devotees. 'This initiative aims to ensure the safety and convenience of the Warkaris during the Wari period, facilitating their journey along the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi route including the Dive Ghat section,' Gore said. In May, the NHAI and Phursungi traffic police had issued an advisory urging motorists to take alternate routes during designated hours owing to the ongoing work at Dive Ghat. Blasting operations are currently being carried out to clear rocky terrain as part of the road-widening project, the traffic police said. Arvind Srivastava, project manager for the road-widening contractor, said that blasting is necessary to break through tough rock formations in the area. However, the process can dislodge large stones, which often fall onto the road creating safety hazards, a concern also highlighted by the NHAI.
