Pune: The historic Wagheswar Temple in Wagholi witnessed an overwhelming turnout of devotees as thousands gathered to celebrate Mahashivratri with chants of "Har Har Mahadev" reverberating through the air. The temple was magnificently decorated with floral arrangements and illuminated with dazzling lights.

The celebrations began on Tuesday night with a midnight Abhishek ritual, following which long queues of devotees formed for darshan. By morning, the line extended up to half a kilometer. Due to the heavy crowd, entry into the sanctum sanctorum was restricted, and devotees offered prayers from outside, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience. Bhajan sessions and spiritual recitations continued throughout the day, enhancing the devotional atmosphere.

Food Distribution for Thousands of Devotees

A large-scale prasad distribution was organized for the devotees, with several social groups contributing generously:

• Jay Ganesh Group served 7,000 liters of lassi

• Kaveri Group of Hotels provided six tons of bananas

• Vijay Gaikwad and Kakasaheb Satav family distributed potato chiwda to 30,000-35,000 people

• Panchganga Group arranged free khichdi distribution

The prasad stalls witnessed massive queues, as devotees eagerly participated in the sacred offering.

Colorful Celebrations and Temple Attractions

The temple premises were adorned with vibrant rangoli designs, adding to the festive spirit. Devotees also enjoyed boat rides in the temple pond. A bazaar of stalls was set up outside the temple, drawing large crowds for shopping and festive purchases. At dawn, the Wagheswar Tarun Mandal organized a special Mahashivratri morning celebration, which saw an enthusiastic participation from devotees.

Volunteers and Police Ensure Smooth Arrangements

To manage the heavy influx of devotees, volunteers and temple authorities worked tirelessly:

• Wagholi Vikas Pratishthan, led by President Rajendra Satav and Vice President Ramdas Dabhade, ensured proper crowd management and smooth arrangements

• Temple priest Ravi Kale oversaw the sanctum sanctorum rituals

• Senior Inspector Pandit Rejitwad from Wagholi Police Station supervised security arrangements. Assistant Inspector Gajanan Jadhav from Lonikand Traffic Department efficiently managed the traffic flow.