Having cancelled the traditional annual “Palkhis” (palanquin processions) from Alandi and Dehu in Pune district to Pandharpur owing to the Covid-19, the Maharashtra Government on Friday  decided to take the holy 'Padukas”  (foot prints) notably of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram from Warkari sect directly to the temple town in Solapur district in western Maharashtra.

At a meeting held between Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and the organising committee in Pune on Friday, it was decided that there would not be palanquin processions from Alandi and Dehu Pune district to the Vithobha-Rukhmani temple in Pandharpur in view of the continued spread of coronavirus in many parts the state.

In the past, palanquin processions would begin from Alandi and Dehu and go  through Pune, Sangli, Satara & Solapur districts. The whole pilgrimage would take 21 days. Numerous palakhis join the main Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar palakhis along the way.

Devotees from from all over Maharashtra and nearby areas would set out for Pandharpur, wearing holi basil beads and sing the glories of Vithoba and songs like “Gyanba Tukaram”, commemorating the saints. Upon reaching Pandharpur on the auspicous Ashadhi Ekadashi day, the devotees would take a holy dip in the sacred Chandrabhaga river or Bhima river before offering prayers at the the Vithoba-Rukobai Temple.

In consultations with the deputy Chief Minister, the organisers decided to discontinue the “Palkhis” (palanquin processions) which would in the past see more than at least four lakh Warkaris, the people who would under annual pilgrimage (wari) from Alandi and Dehu to the temple town of Pandharpur in Solapur district.

During the meeting, Pawar assured the organisers that the State Government would ensure the “palkhis” would  be taken to Pandharpur on the day of Dashmi either via Helicopter or via State-run MSRTC buses.

This is for the first time in the nearly 800-year-old tradition of Palkhis,palanquin processions will not be taken by foot from the twin temple towns of Alandi and Dehu to Pandharpur.  

As part of the decision taken by the State Government, palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram, Sant Nivrutinath, Sant Sopankaka, Sant Muktabai and Sant Namdeo will be taken directly by either road or air on the dashmi day.