CM Fadnavis seeks divine intervention

Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday prayed to Lord Vitthal to make the government’s efforts to mitigate water scarcity a success.

The drought conditions prevailing since last year has led to sharp decline in Maharashtra's agricultural production. The state’s Economic Survey has said that the agricultural production is expected to grow only by 0.4 per cent in 2018-19.

“I prayed to Vithoba (another name for Lord Vitthal) for giving his blessings to the government’s efforts to make the state drought free,” Mr Fadnavis said.

The chief minister performed the mahapuja of Lord Vitthal and Godd-ess Rukmini in the temple town of Pandharpur on the occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi. In 2018, the chief minister was forced to forgo the ceremony after Maratha agitators threatened to disrupt the procession or ‘wari’ in the wake of the quota controversy.

Mr Fadnavis said that keeping the centuries-old tradition alive, lakhs of people from across the state visited Pandharpur, which is situated in Solapur district, around 359 km from Mumbai, to pay their respects to Lord Vitthal. Warkaris (pilgrims) Vithal Chavan and his wife Prayag received the opportunity to perform the rituals alongside the chief minister and his wife, Amruta.

The rituals at the Lord Vitthal temple in Pandharpur began past Thursday midnight at around 2.30 am.

Praising the warkaris, Mr Fadnavis said that they had kept alive the religion and tradition during the British Raj. “Every year, the dindi (walking trail) is organised in a disciplined manner, which creates a positive environment. This positive energy will be used to make Mahar-ashtra green, lush, rich and tree-abundant.  government is trying to make this wari, a centuries-old tradition, clean and pure with the help of NGOs,” said Mr Fadnavis, who appealed to warkaris to participate in the drive to make it a success.

Addressing devotees after performing the puja, the chief minister said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had taught Maharashtra to respect people and their feelings.

Taking the inspiration from the Maratha emperor, justice has been done with Maratha and Dhangar community, he said.

In 2018, Mr Fadnavis, after deciding not to perform the puja at Pandharpur in light of the Maratha protest, had revealed there was intelligence reports that agitators were planning to create “stampede-like condition” by releasing snakes into the procession.

Therefore, the chief minister had performed the puja at his official residence, Varsha, in south Mumbai.