No procession on Ashadhi this year; Holy Padukas will be taken directly to Pandharpur on Dashmi

Pune: There will be no Ashadhi procession this year and Holy Padukas will be taken directly to Pandharpur on the day of Dashmi. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ashadhi Palkhi procession will have restrictions. On Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Ashadhi Palkhi Procession organizing team held a meeting in Pune.

In which it was decided that Ashadhi Palkhi Procession from Dehu and Alandi will not happen this year. Instead of that holy 'Padukas' from Alandi and Dehu should be taken to Pandharpur on the day of Dashmi either via Helicopter or via State Transport Bus.

Every year more than lakh pilgrims take part in this procession. This will happen for the first time in history that 'Ashadhi Palkhi' Road Procession will not take place & 'Holy Padukas' of saint Dyaneshwar and saint Tukaram will be taken directly to Pandharpur's Vithoba-Rahumai Temple.

There is a legacy to this holy procession which getting followed for many years. On behalf of the state government, Pawar assured the pilgrims and organising committee that they will provide all support with necessary permissions and transportation of 'Holy Padukas' in state transport buses or by helicopter. "We will make the decision about transporting these 'Holy Padukas' either via helicopter or via a flight depending on the weather condition of the day of Dashmi. We will take this decision taking all concerned parties into confidence," said Ajit Pawar.

This procession takes place for 15 days and goes through Pune, Sangli, Satara & Solapur districts. Considering the current situation of the novel Corona Virus the case in other districts except Sangli district has gone up in the last 15 days. During this procession, more than one lakh people every year participate and the walk towards 'Vitthal-Rakhumai' temple Pandharpur city of Solapur district. If these many people come together in the current scenario it will be very difficult to observe the social distancing norms.