Pune, 19 July 2025: The palanquins (palkhis) of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj, having completed their annual Ashadhi Wari pilgrimage to Pandharpur, arrived in Pune on Friday. The city witnessed an overwhelming turnout of devotees as both palkhis halted here during their return journey.
Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s palkhi, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of tal-mrudung and the chanting of Harinaam, reached Bhavani Peth’s Palakhi Vitthal Mandir at around 5:30 AM, after departing from Hadapsar early in the morning.
The palkhi was welcomed by temple trustees Tejendra Kondhare, Pramod Bengrut, Gorakh Bhikule, and Kishor Bengrut, along with key attendees Hrishikesh Arfalkar, Rajabhau Chopdar, and Rambhau Chopdar.
Following tradition, the padukas (sacred sandals) of Sant Dnyaneshwar were ceremonially bathed and worshipped by chief trustee Yogi Niranjannath.
Later in the day, Sant Tukaram Maharaj’s palkhi arrived in Pune at around 4:30 PM and will proceed to Pimpri on today. Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s palkhi is scheduled to leave for Alandi on Sunday morning.
This year holds special significance as it marks the 750th birth anniversary of Sant Dnyaneshwar and the 375th punyatithi of Sant Tukaram. To commemorate the occasion, Sant Tukaram Maharaj’s palkhi will visit Alandi on Sunday, July 20, to join Sant Dnyaneshwar’s palkhi in a symbolic reunion ceremony known as Santbhet.
The gathering will be followed by an overnight halt, after which Sant Tukaram’s procession will move toward Dehu on Monday.
