Pune: Palkhis Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Uaram will leave for Pandharpur by bus from Alandi and Dehugoon, on Monday morning before Aashadi Ekadashi who is profitable on Tuesday.
It will be the second year in a row that Palkhis will travel to Pandharpur with the traditional 250km procession bus that usually witnesses thousands of worshipers walking to Temple in the Solapur district.
The state does not allow procession because of the Covid situation.
Respected ‘Padukas’ (footwear) of both sans saved in Devulwada in Alandi and Dehugaon, will be taken in four separate buses.
The state government has allowed at least 40 ‘warners’ to accompany each Palkhi.
‘Padukas’ will reach the village of Wakhari, about eight km from Pandharpur, on Monday afternoon.
From there, they will take foot to Pandharpur according to tradition.
On Ekadashi’s day, Padukas will be taken to the Vitthal-Rukmini Lord Temple.
Meanwhile, Ganpat Jadhav, is responsible for rural hospitals in Alandi, said, “All participants have been tested for Covid in private hospitals and they are negative.” Kishor Yadav, responsible for the Primary Dehugoon Health Center, said, “We tested 40 warners who would accompany Palkhi in the last two days.
Their reports are negative Covid.
We have sent their reports to the District Administration and Sant Tenganam Maharaj Temple Trust.” Good Temple trust has graced the bus that will move under police protection.
The district government has issued direction to supervisors not to stop along the route.
Also, he has banned five or more assembly in villages along the Punkhis route to avoid the possibility of crowding considering covid restrictions.