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The Pandharpur Wari, the annual pilgrimage procession from several parts of Maharashtra to honour Lord Vitthal, will test the resolve of lakhs of devotees this year as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted hot and humid temperatures for the first seven days.
“During the early phase of the Palkhi pilgrimage, the weather will be suffocating and uncomfortable, especially between 10.30 am to 4 pm. Organisers should take full precaution to avoid dehydration,” Dr Anupam Kashyapi, head of weather forecasting at the IMD, said. Thunder and lightning with spells of rain are likely in the afternoons in the first phase.
The pilgrimage from June 10 to June 29 will see lakhs of devotees walking from the temple towns of Dehu and Alandi to Pandharpur.
The IMD has been issuing annual pilgrimage forecasts for the last few years. “Staring Friday, we will be issuing forecasts till the end of the event to update pilgrims about the weather a couple of days in advance,” Kashyapi added.
A majority of the devotees are from the farming community and finish their sowing before participating in the pilgrimage. This year, however, Maharashtra is yet to see any significant rainfall and sowing is yet to start.
The monsoon this year has been delayed and though it has now covered most of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, its further progress is awaited. The IMD has said that Pune and its surrounding regions are likely to receive thunder, lightning and some rain in the next few days.
