Over 4 Lakh Devotees Attend Pandharpur Chaitri Yatra, Massive Crowd for Chandrabhaga Snan

Pandharpur witnessed a huge turnout of nearly four lakh devotees during the Chaitri Yatra on Kamada Ekadashi, with lakhs gathering for Chandrabhaga river bathing and Vitthal darshan. Over one lakh devotees in the queue despite summer heat.

Pandharpur | March 26, 2026: Pandharpur, the sacred town of Lord Vitthal, witnessed an overwhelming influx of devotees as the annual Chaitri Yatra celebrations reached their peak on Sunday. The main religious event of Kamada Ekadashi was held amid loud chants of “Harinaam” and “Vitthal Vitthal,” with an estimated four lakh devotees participating in the pilgrimage. Despite soaring summer temperatures, devotees gathered in large numbers for a holy dip in the Chandrabhaga river and to seek blessings at the Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple. Officials said that more than one lakh devotees were seen standing in the main darshan queue, reflecting the massive spiritual fervour surrounding the annual festival.

The Chandrabhaga riverbed and surrounding areas were packed with pilgrims from early morning, as most devotees prioritised the traditional Chandrabhaga snan before entering the temple for darshan. The riverbank, often referred to as the Chandrabhaga “walwant,” was filled with devotees performing rituals, offering prayers, and chanting devotional hymns. While the crowd for mukh darshan was reported to be relatively manageable, heavy congestion was witnessed near the temple premises for kalash darshan. Security and temple management teams were deployed to manage the flow of devotees and ensure orderly movement during the peak hours.

As per tradition, devotees visiting Pandharpur on Chaitri Ekadashi often proceed towards Shikhar Shinganapur after completing their pilgrimage. Since the journey is completed quickly, the Chaitri pilgrimage is popularly described as a “fast-moving wari,” unlike the longer Ashadhi and Kartiki wari. In keeping with longstanding customs, a grand offering of traditional puran poli was made to Lord Vitthal as maha-naivedya, even though Ekadashi is observed as a fasting day. Religious folklore states that after Ekadashi darshan in Pandharpur, devotees travel to Shikhar Shinganapur, where a symbolic wedding ceremony of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is celebrated, and Lord Vitthal is believed to partake in a feast of Panchpakwan. The spiritual atmosphere in Pandharpur remained vibrant throughout the day, marking the Chaitri Yatra as one of the most significant religious gatherings of the season

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