Pandharpur Wari ended on Ashadhi Ekadashi. Lakhs of Varkaris took a dip of faith in Chandrabhaga river. During this, Minister Girish Mahajan also performed puja. Three women pilgrims were killed in a truck accident during the yatra.
The annual Pandharpur Wari Yatra came to an end on the occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi on Saturday. During this time, lakhs of Varkaris (pilgrims) gathered on the banks of Chandrabhaga river in Pandharpur.
A large number of pilgrims took a holy dip in the river as part of the traditional rituals associated with the annual pilgrimage.
The 800-year-old Pandharpur Wari is an annual pilgrimage in Maharashtra, during which lakhs of devotees trek to Pandharpur to worship Lord Vithoba. This year’s Vaari started on July 7 and concluded on July 25.
Minister performed puja, said – all records broken
Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan offered prayers at Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple on Saturday morning. Speaking to ANI, Mahajan said that he comes to Pandharpur every year to oversee the arrangements. He said that disaster management is his department. He said, “I come here every year. I come here to handle the arrangements. Disaster management is my subject. The crowd is huge at this time. So many devotees have come that all records have been broken.”
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde also performed Mahapuja at Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple.
A painful accident happened during the procession.
Earlier on July 13, a truck carrying pilgrims, known as warkari, hit a group of pilgrims on the Saswad-Jejuri road in Pune district, killing three women pilgrims from Ashadh Wari and injuring four others, police officials said.
According to Pune Rural Police, the accident took place near Hotel Shipdeep Lodging, about 500 meters from Belsar toll naka towards Jejuri.
Police said that the truck belonged to ‘Dindi’ of Nanded district and it met with the accident along with seven women Varkaris of ‘Dindi’ of Sangli district.
Three women died in the accident, while four others were injured. The injured were admitted to an ICU hospital in Jejuri for treatment. Police said that the truck was being driven by a 70-year-old man, who has been taken into custody.
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