Pune, 23 June 2025: Once again, Pune city demonstrated a remarkable blend of devotion, faith, and modern management while welcoming the Palkhis (holy palanquins) of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj. This year, a record 4.90 lakh Warkaris (devotees) arrived in the city, and the massive crowd was effectively managed with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
Sant Tukaram Maharaj’s Palkhi entered Pune on June 20, accompanied by around 1.95 lakh devotees and over 600 vehicles. On the same day, Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s Palkhi reached the city with 2.95 lakh devotees and nearly 2,000 vehicles.
AI System Ensured Smooth Operations
For the first time, Pune Police used an AI-based system to count the crowd and manage traffic more precisely. Cameras and specialised software were installed at multiple points, generating analytical reports on the number of devotees, vehicles, and crowd flow. From planning to execution and post-event analysis, AI played a vital role at every stage.
“Traditional methods alone were not enough. With AI technology, we could analyse the crowd accurately, ensuring better planning, execution, and review,” said Amitesh Kumar, Commissioner of Police, Pune City.
