Lakhs congregate at Pandharpur for 'Ashadhi Ekadashi'

Sat, 30 June 2012

14:29

Lakhs of devotees congregated at the temple town of Pandharpur on Saturday to witness the `maha-puja' of Lord Vitthal and Rukhmini on the occasion of 'Ashadhi Ekadashi'.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and his wife Satyashila performed the maha-puja (grand prayer) at Lord Vitthal temple.

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh was among those present on the occasion. Singh has been attending the

annual ritual for several years.

Chavan announced his Government would initiate steps to expedite development of Pandharpur, located in Solapur district of Western Maharashtra.

The committee managing the affairs of the temple would be reconstituted soon, he said.

Ekadashi marks the culmination of pilgrimage, called 'waari', that devotees undertake from across the state on foot to reach the temple town.

In Mumbai, large crowds gathered at Vitthal Temple in Wadala to perform puja on the auspicious occasion.

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