Latest news with #SantTukaramMaharaj
Time of India
11 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Early onset of monsoon likely to boost warkari participation in Ashadhi wari this year
1 2 3 Pune: Organisers of the annual Ashadhi wari are anticipating a surge in the number of warkaris (devotees) joining this year's palkhi processions of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj owing to the early arrival of monsoon. The early onset of the monsoon has enabled warkaris, who are primarily farmers, to complete sowing ahead of schedule, allowing them to participate in the pilgrimage. An official from the Alandi temple trust said this year marks the 750th birth anniversary of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, and a series of celebrations are under way. "The silver coating of the Sant Dnyaneshwar palkhi has been replaced this year in honour of the 750th birth anniversary. The milestone is expected to draw a larger number of devotees to the annual wari," the official said. Similarly, the Dehu temple trust is commemorating the 375th 'Vaikuntha Gaman Sohala' of Sant Tukaram Maharaj, which will further encourage warkari participation. The palkhi of Sant Tukaram Maharaj will begin its journey from Dehu on June 18, while the palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj will depart Alandi on June 19. Both processions will travel more than 200km on foot towards Pandharpur and reach the temple town on July 5, a day before Ashadhi Ekadashi, which falls on July 6. The Sant Tukaram Maharaj palkhi will include 377 dindis (groups of devotees), while 350 dindis will be part of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi. Jalinder Maharaj More, president of the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Sansthan, said warkaris would start arriving in Dehu at least three days prior to the procession. "We have requested the administration to allot more space for the warkaris to stay in Akurdi. We have also requested them to urgently repair the road from Dehu temple to Dehu Road to avoid inconvenience to the pilgrims," he said. More added that this year, the palkhi will make a brief stop of around one-and-a-half hours in Uruli Kanchan due to a route-related issue that emerged between villagers and the committee last year. In order to ensure smooth coordination, several administrative meetings have been held in recent weeks. One such meeting took place at Mantralaya in Mumbai last month, where temple trust members urged officials to restrict the setup of Swagat Kaksha (felicitation centres) along the palkhi route, citing issues of congestion and disruption. "We have requested the govt not to allow felicitation stages and loudspeakers along the route as they hinder the movement of warkaris and cause crowding around these setups. Those wishing to felicitate should stand along the road instead," said Bhavartha Dekhane, chief of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Sohala. Dekhane further saidthe temple trust has also requested the appointment of nodal officers in each district the palkhi passes through, along with a dedicated police unit to accompany the procession from Pune to Pandharpur. Both temple trusts have urged the state govt to ensure a sufficient supply of water for warkaris along the entire route.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PMRDA cracks down on illegal hoardings along palkhi route
1 2 3 Pune: The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has initiated action against unauthorised hoarding structures along the Palkhi route in preparation for the upcoming Ashadhi wari. The administration demolished 21 such illegal structures in the past week alone, with plans to remove the remaining illegal hoardings within the next 10 days, a senior PMRDA official said. A PMRDA team on Tuesday took action against unauthorised hoardings along the Pune-Solapur highway near Loni Kalbhor. The initiative aims to ensure the safety of warkaris (devotees) during the annual procession of the palkhis of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj on their journey to Pandharpur. The palkhi of Sant Tukaram Maharaj is scheduled to depart from the Dehu temple on June 18, while Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj's palkhi will leave Alandi on June 19. Both processions will arrive in Pune city on June 20 and further depart towards Lord Vitthal-Rukmini temple in Pandharpur on June 22. A senior PMRDA official said they have also asked National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to take action against illegal structures within its jurisdiction. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo "Most of the unauthorised hoardings are along Sant Tukaram Maharaj's palkhi route. We have prepared a plan to remove all of them," the official added. Dipti Suryavanshi Patil, deputy district Collector at PMRDA, said the drive against unauthorised hoardings across PMRDA limits began on April 22. So far, 46 hoardings have been demolished, including 21 on the palkhi route. "Before starting the drive, we held a meeting with the hoarding association and urged them to seek official permissions to avoid action," she said. Last week, PMRDA commissioner Yogesh Mhase convened a review meeting with officials concerned to intensify action against unauthorised hoardings. According to officials, a total of 967 illegal structures were identified during the survey, of which 90 have already been removed. The remaining are slated for demolition, especially those that pose a risk to public safety and obstruct traffic. "Hoarding owners must obtain proper permission from PMRDA to avoid punitive action. These unauthorised structures pose a serious threat to public safety, especially during heavy rain and strong winds, which is why we launched this drive," said Sanjay Kadam, joint commissioner of PMRDA.
