Lakhs of devotees will gather in Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadashi, Bombay High Court directs DM to make proper arrangements

The festival of Ashadhi Ekadashi will be celebrated on 17th July in the Solapur district of Maharashtra. During this, a grand event is organized in Pandharpur of Solapur district. The Bombay High Court, regarding this matter, directed the District Magistrate of the Solapur district to look into the security arrangements. On the day of Ashadhi Ekadashi and Kartiki Ekadashi, people from all over Maharashtra travel long distances and gather in Pandharpur twice a year. This is the time when large numbers of people come to worship Lord Vitthal.

The division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar has made a direction to the District Magistrate, Solapur district, and other officials to make arrangements at Pandharpur for basic facilities. The court expressed that more than 15 lakh devotees of Lord Vitthal were likely to reach Pandharpur; in view of this, all officials have been instructed to ensure cleanliness, temporary sheds, toilets, and health facilities.

While giving instructions to the District Magistrate and other officials, the court said, "You have to be very careful. There should not be any untoward incident, there should not be any lapse in security, you will have to keep an eye not only on Kumbhar Ghat but on all the ghats." It further added that the District Magistrate shall personally take those responsibilities.

It informed that all types of facilities for the devotees will be provided by government officials. The court said, "We direct the District Magistrate of Solapur to be personally present on the spot." The District Magistrate will ensure whether adequate facilities are being provided to everyone or not. It directed the government lawyer PP Kakade to provide copies of the court order to the District Magistrate and other officials.

Actually, a PIL was filed in the court by lawyer Ajinkya Sangeet Rao. A complaint regarding the construction work of ghats was lodged in the petition. The petition referred to the October 2020 incident wherein six people lost their lives due to the collapse of a 20-foot-high wall in a ghat under construction.