07 July,2026 01:38 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/PTI
Trustees of the Shri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sansthan on Tuesday appealed to devotees to avoid travelling to Alandi in Pune district for the annual ceremony scheduled on July 8 due to severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall.
The trustees requested devotees to join the procession at a later halt once weather conditions improve. They said the departure ceremony will be held with only a limited number of participants as a precautionary measure.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the trustees after reviewing the flood situation in Alandi, where the Indrayani river has crossed the danger mark following continuous rainfall across Maharashtra.
Every year, lakhs of devotees participate in the annual pilgrimage from Alandi and Dehu to Lord Vitthal's temple in Pandharpur town of Solapur district ahead of Ashadhi Ekadashi.
However, the ongoing flood situation has severely affected arrangements this year.
On Monday, devotees staying on temple premises and accommodation facilities in Alandi were shifted to safer locations after the water level of the Indrayani river increased.
Authorities also closed bridges and vulnerable routes in Alandi, Dehu and other flood-prone locations to ensure public safety.
In a statement, the trustees said transport services in Alandi have been disrupted due to flooding. The railings and light poles on the Indrayani bridge have been washed away, while water supply infrastructure in the town has been submerged.
They said arrangements for drinking water have also been severely affected.
Temporary queue management structures set up for visitors and several mobile toilets have been washed away in the floods. Power supply has also been disrupted in some areas.
"The ground earmarked for tents and accommodation has turned slushy and it is not possible to make arrangements for the large number of warkaris expected to arrive for the ceremony," the trustees said.
Despite the challenging conditions, the Sansthan has decided to conduct the 2026 Ashadhi Wari Palkhi departure ceremony as scheduled at 3 pm on July 8 from the Sanjeevan Samadhi Temple in Alandi, but with restricted participation.
According to the trustees, the event will be attended by 10 participants each from 56 designated groups, bringing the number of participating devotees to 560.
Apart from them, group leaders, dignitaries, other devotees, volunteers, police personnel, health workers and sanitation workers will also participate, taking the overall attendance to around 1,660.
The trustees appealed to devotees not to travel to Alandi for the ceremony due to safety concerns and advised them to join the procession at a later halt after the weather improves.
"They are requested not to travel to Alandi for the departure ceremony. The Sansthan will issue further advisories regarding participation in the palkhi procession at later halts depending on the weather situation," the trustees said, seeking cooperation from all devotees.
(With inputs from PTI)
