Fadnavis to be first Maha leader to perform 'official' pujas at Vitthal temple

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would on Friday become the first politician in the state to perform both official pujas at the famous Vitthal temple of PandharpurHe would be performing the Kartiki Ekadashi puja at the temple in his capacity as deputy chief minister on FridayThe customary puja is conducted on behalf of the state government at the temple a major pilgrimage site and the centre of the Warkari sectNotably as chief minister from 2014 to 2019 Fadnavis had performed Ashadhi Ekadashi puja at the temple in his official capacityTwo major pujas are performed at the Pandharpur temple Aashadhi Ekadashi and Kartiki EkadashiEkadashi denotes the 11th day of the lunar calendar four days prior to the full moon night The month of Ashadh in the Hindu calendar generally falls in June or July while the month of Kartik overlaps with October or NovemberSince 1985 the Maharashtra chief minister performs the puja at the Vitthal Rukmini temple on Ashadhi Ekadashi Since 1995 the deputy chief minister was given the honour of performing the Kartiki Ekadashi puja said a government officialAlso Read Sena rebellion Fadnavis says he asked Independent MLA Kadu to join ShindeBut no politician had ever had the distinction of performing both the pujas as nobody had until now occupied both the postsIn Fadnaviss case he became deputy CM in June this year in the Eknath Shindeled government having served as chief minister for five years between 2014 to 2019Fadnavis is going to be the first politician to get the opportunity to perform both the pujas the official saidIn 1995 when Shiv SenaBharatiya Janata Party government came to power Manohar Joshi of the Sena became chief minister while BJPs Gopinath Munde became deputy chief ministerThe custom of dividing the two pujas at Pandharpur temple between the CM and deputy CM was started then to take care of political egos in alliance governments said a senior political observerAfter the 2014 elections the BJP the single largest party did not offer the deputy CMs post to its then ally Shiv Sena he saidBut then senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse was given the honour of performing the Kartiki Puja he said adding that it indicated that Khadse was number two in the cabinetAfter Khadses resignation minister Chandrakant Patil performed the Kartiki Ekadashi puja in subsequent years he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever