Pandharpur (Maha), July 10: Lakhs of devotees today paid obeisance to Lord Vitthal here on the occasion of `Ashadi Ekadashi'. Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde performed the `Maha-Pooja' with his wife.
A `Warkari' (devotees coming on foot annually for the darshan of Lord Vithoba) Namdeo Kotkar from Hingoli got the honour of performing the Pooja with Shinde, temple sources said here.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh was also present on the occasion.
The town, on the banks of Chandrabhaga river, reverberated with chants of `Pundalik Varda Hari Vitthal' and `Gynaba Tukaram', as around six lakh devotees gathered to offer prayers to their favourite deity, a tradition being followed for several hundred years now.
`Ashadi Ekadashi' (the 11th day of Hindu month of `Ashad') draws a large number of devout Hindus not only from various districts of the state but also from neighbouring Karnataka, Goa and parts of Andhra Pradesh. A number of foreigners also thronged the pilgrim town to participate in the `Wari' (foot yatra).
The administration has made elaborate arrangements for drinking water and sanitation for the devotees while the state transport corporation (MSRTC) and the railways have made special arrangements to enable devotees from far away places to visit the pilgrim site.
Bureau Report