Aurangabad: 'Ashadi Ekadashi' -- a holy festival on the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight -- is being celebrated with religious fervour at Lord Vitthal-Rukhmini temple known as 'Mini Pandharpur' at Waluj near here since early hours of Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his greetings on the occasion.
Notably, during the past two years administration had not allowed devotees to visits temple in wake of Covid.
Aurangabad BJP city president Sanjay Kenekar and Babanrao pere performed Mahapooja in the early hours today and offered prayers in the temple.
Long queues were seen outside the temple as thousands of devotees thronged the temple area early morning to take blessings of Lord Vitthala. Several "Dindis' (processions) were being witnessed at different locations of the city. Other temples in the city and around the city have also been decorated with lights.
Police have made adequate security arrangements with around 700 police force including officers deployed and traffic of Aurangabad-Pune road has also been diverted to control the devotee rush.
On this day, people usually observe a full day fast to pay respect to their Lord. The temples across the city were seen engulfed with Bhajans and Kirtans.
South Central railway from Nanded station is running special trains to Pandharpur on this occasion.
Meanwhile ,State chief minister Eknath Shinde with his wife performed official special Mahapooja in the early hours of Sunday at Lord Vitthal Temple in Pandarpur.
Above Ten lakh devotees including across the state reached this holy town to pay obeisance to Lord Vitthala while chanting 'Jay Hari Vitthala' and 'Ram Krishna Hari'. (UNI)
