Palkhi temple trustees say they're fed up of police interference
Palkhi temple trustees say they're fed up of police interference
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It's a crowd this year with more than two lakh pilgrims participating in the palkhi processions, and security measures have been stepped up in response. But devotees feel that too much security is robbing the event of its spiritual touch.
Tight security is heavily inconveniencing devotees around the Palkhi Vithoba temple in Bhawani Peth, feel temple trustees.
The Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi halts for a night and a day at the temple.
Close to the temple is the Nivdungya Vithoba temple, where the Sant Tukaram Maharaj palkhi takes its halt. The Nivdungya Vithoba temple has this year installed four CCTV cameras as a security measure.
This year the two palkhis arrived on separate days, and the number of people in the city is also higher.
The Palkhi Vithoba Temple has six CCTV cameras. The overall security arrangements have also been doubled.
Security is not as rigid as that at the Nivdungya Vithoba temple, from where the Sant Tukaram Maharaj palkhi leaves today.
"The Palkhi Vithoba area has a cordon of 300 policemen around it," said Police Inspector Sanjay Bolbhand of the Samarth police station.
Vasant Kondhare, chief trustee of the Palkhi Vithoba temple, said the Palkhi Vithoba temple gets more devotees compared to other temples.
"We have to perform many rituals and people from various places come for darshan of the palkhi every
year. Because of the security threat these days, we are unable to perform our religious duties in peace.
Security has destroyed the spiritual touch of the event," said Kondhare.
During the stay of Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi at Palkhi Vithoba temple, there is a mahapooja, mahaprashad and the palkhi is decked with flowers.
"There are longer queues for devotees and everything gets disturbed because of so many policemen," said Kondhare.
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