Deputy CM Eknath Shinde Offers Darshan of Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Mata in Pandharpur

Pandharpur : On the occasion of the Ashadhi Wari pilgrimage, large crowds of devotees gathered in long queues for the darshan of Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Mata. To ensure smooth and uninterrupted darshan for all pilgrims, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Pandharpur today and took darshan of the deity.

He was accompanied by Minister for Water Resources Girish Mahajan and Minister for Public Health Prakash Abitkar, who also received darshan of Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Mata.

On behalf of the temple committee, Deputy CM Shinde was felicitated with a shawl and an idol of Shri Vitthal-Rukmini by Gahininath Maharaj Ousekar, Co-chairman of the Temple Committee. During the visit, Shinde inspected ongoing restoration and conservation work of the temple being carried out under the pilgrimage site development plan. Maharaj Ousekar provided a detailed update on these efforts.

Ministers Girish Mahajan and Prakash Abitkar were also felicitated by the temple committee during the visit.

Present on the occasion were MLAs Samadhan Awatade and Raju Khare, District Collector Kumar Ashirwad, Superintendent of Police Atul Kulkarni, Executive Officer of the Temple Committee Rajendra Shelke, and Manager Manoj Shrotri.

Walk from Choufala to the Temple

The area from Choufala to the Vitthal-Rukmini Temple has been declared a vehicle-free zone during the Ashadhi pilgrimage. Although vehicles were made available through the temple committee for VIPs as per official protocol, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde chose to walk the entire distance from Choufala to the temple. He made this decision in view of the heavy rush of devotees in the temple vicinity, ensuring that no inconvenience or obstruction was caused to the pilgrims due to vehicular movement.