At Pandharpur, rituals are modified for better crowd management

Every year in the month of June, devotees from across the country throng to the temples of Vitthala and Rukmini at Pandharpur in Solapur district. The number swells to lakhs and yet the district administration, unlike its counterparts in certain other parts of the country, has been able to avoid unpleasant incidents. In its efforts, it has been ably supported by the disciplined dindis and palkhis of various religious leaders.

District Collector Jagdish Patil said, “Barricading, keeping the 4,000 state transport buses out of the town, and providing basic facilities like drinking water to the devotees through 350 volunteers have worked in our favour. Earlier, devotees used to break coconut during the pilgrimage. The area used to become slippery. After the Mandhradevi incident, we banned the ritual, despite opposition from some devotees. After all, it is for their safety.”