Pune: On the fourth Monday of Shravan, approximately 125,000 devotees gathered at Shri Kshetra Bhimashankar, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, braving torrential rains and dense fog to offer their prayers.
The devotees, chanting "Har Har Mahadev" and "Junglevasti Bhimashankar Maharaj Ki Jai," had a holy darshan of the revered Shiva Linga despite the challenging weather conditions.
This year, the occasion coincided with Shri Krishna Janmashtami, leading to a spectacular decoration of the temple's assembly hall and surrounding areas with vibrant, multicolored flowers.
The Bhimashankar region had been experiencing stormy winds and heavy rains for the past few days, which led to a lower-than-expected turnout on Monday (August 26) morning. However, over the weekend, the temple saw a significant influx of visitors in anticipation of the Monday prayers.
The temple doors opened at 4:30 AM on Monday, and after thorough cleaning, the rituals began at 5 AM with a milk and water abhishek (ritual bathing) of the Shiva Linga, followed by the Mahaarati.
By 1 PM, the crowd extended to the Ambegaon and Khed boundaries but gradually began to disperse as the day progressed. Many devotees, after having their darshan, quickly began their return journey due to the ongoing storm and heavy rainfall.
Among the notable visitors was Dr. Amol Kolhe, the current MP of the Shirur Lok Sabha constituency, who offered prayers at the holy site. The Labade Mitra Parivar of Manchar contributed to the festivities by creating a stunning replica of Shri Krishna using 300 kg of colorful flowers, which added to the temple's festive decorations.
To manage the large crowd, the Maharashtra State Transport Corporation deployed seven minibusses and eleven large buses, ensuring smooth transportation for the devotees.
The traffic management was overseen by Assistant Traffic Inspector Trainee Pune, Maruti Khaladkar, Assistant Traffic Superintendent Tukaram Pawale, and Jayant Salunkhe, who efficiently coordinated the flow of vehicles.
Despite the administration's efforts, there were occasional disputes as some devotees breached the queue on the steps leading to the darshan area. Volunteers from the Swakam Seva Mandal of Alandi played a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness within the temple premises and along the queue path.
The temple administration, led by Shri Kshetra Bhimashankar Devasthan Trust President Adv. Suresh Kaudare, Vice Executive Trustee Madhukar Shastri Gavande, Trustees Ratnakar Kodilkar, Dattatraya Kaudare, Goraksha Kaudare, Bhorgiri Gram Panchayat Sarpanch Dattatraya Hile, and Manager Chandrakant Kaudare, actively resolved devotees' issues and managed the temple's various arrangements.
The Ghodegaon Police Station, under the supervision of Assistant Police Inspector Kiran Bhalekar and Police Sub-Inspectors Mahesh Pawar and Kishor Wagaj, ensured tight security across all five parking lots and the bus station.