Pune: The Palkhi (palanquin) of Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj, which departed from Pune, was halted in Uruli Kanchan on Wednesday (July 3) due to a dispute between villagers and trustees. Pune Superintendent of Police, Pankaj Deshmukh, has arrived at the scene to mediate.
The villagers in Uruli Kanchan obstructed the procession of Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj’s Palkhi. The conflict arose because the Palkhi did not follow its traditional route through the village, leading to an aggressive response from the locals. Consequently, a disagreement erupted between the trustees and the villagers of Uruli Kanchan.
Superintendent Pankaj Deshmukh is on-site, attempting to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, the Palkhi, having completed its stay in Loni Kalbhor, is en route to Yawat.
On Tuesday (July 2), the Palkhi of Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj was joyously welcomed in Purva Haveli. At Kavdipat, Group Development District Council Chief Executive Officer Chandrakant Waghmare and Haveli Group Development Officer Bhushan Joshi greeted the Palkhi.
According to procession leaders Sanjay Maharaj More and Ajit Maharaj More, a total of 125 Dindis (pilgrim groups) participated in the event. Around 7 PM, the procession arrived at the Palakhital in Loni Kalbhor.
Sarpanch Savita Landge, Kadamwakvasti Sarpanch Chittaranjan Gaikwad, and Deputy Sarpanch Nasir Pathan conducted a grand aarti. Other notable attendees included Deputy Sarpanch Sheetal Kalbhor, Village Development Officer S. N. Gawari, Shirur Haveli MLA Ashok Pawar and associates, senior leaders Madhav Kalbhor, Vilas Kalbhor, Maharashtra Kesari titleholder Rahul Kalbhor, Congress leader Shivdas Kalbhor, District Council Member Sunanda Shelar, former Panchayat Samiti Deputy Chairman Yugandhar Kalbhor, former Deputy Sarpanch Annasaheb Kalbhor, organizer Shraddha Kadam, City Chief Santosh Bhosale, and District Organizer Nilesh Kalbhor.
The event featured performances by Prithviraj Kapoor Memorial High School’s dhol-tasha team and a tree-planting procession by girls from the local school. Maharashtra Kesari Rahul Kalbhor distributed snacks and cold drinks to 10,000 pilgrims.
Additionally, arrangements included free food service for the pilgrims, a free health camp, and waste management to ensure the village remained clean.