Pimpri: The sacred Bhadrapada Palkhi Yatra of Shri Mangalmurti, associated with the revered Shrimant Mahasadhu Moraya Gosavi Maharaj, will commence from Chinchwad this Wednesday (September 4).
This annual procession, which has been a part of Chinchwad’s spiritual tradition for over 525 years, will conclude on Friday, September 13, according to Mandar Maharaj Dev, the chief trustee of the temple.
Moraya Gosavi Maharaj, a prominent figure in the Ganapatya sect, is celebrated for his monthly pilgrimages to Shri Mayureshwar in Morgaon. He attained Samadhi in 1561 on the banks of the Pavana River in Chinchwad.
The origins of this yatra trace back to the year 1489, when Moraya Gosavi, at the age of 117, discovered the sacred rice idol of Shri Mayureshwar in the Ganeshkund of the Karha River at Morgaon.
Since then, it has become a tradition to carry this prasadmurti (sacred idol) to Morgaon in a procession during the month of Bhadrapada, a practice that has been faithfully observed by devotees for more than five centuries.
Procession Route and Schedule
The yatra will begin with a grand procession featuring horses leading the way, followed by the esteemed Shrigajalakshmi Dhol Pathak from Pune. The Palkhi will start its journey on Wednesday at 12 noon, departing from Shri Mangalmurti Wada and proceeding towards Morgaon.
The procession will pass through significant landmarks, including the Samadhi Temple, Gandhipeth, Power House Chowk (Pimpri-Chinchwad Link Road), Bhatnagar, Mumbai-Pune Highway, Khadki, Wakdewadi, Shaniwarwada, and Laxmi Road, before making an overnight halt at Eknath Mangal Karyalaya in Pune.
On Thursday, September 5, the Palkhi will resume its journey at 4:30 AM from Eknath Mangal Karyalaya. It will traverse through Bhavani Peth, Ramoshi Gate, Bhairoba Nala, Divya Vatika Ashram, Dive Ghat, and Saswad Bazaar, reaching the Karhabai Temple for the second halt.
On Friday, September 6, the procession will depart from the temple in the morning, heading towards Shivri, Raskar Mala, and continuing through Shri Kshetra Jejuri, Mawdi, and Dhol Mala.
The Palkhi is expected to arrive at Morgaon by 9 PM. It will stay in Morgaon for two days, on Saturday (September 7) and Sunday (September 8).
The return journey is scheduled to begin on September 9. The Palkhi will make stops at Shri Kshetra Jejuri, Shri Karhabai Temple, and Divya Vatika Ashram, Wadki, before completing its pilgrimage by returning to the Chinchwad temple on September 13.