Pandharpur Temple Suspends Padya Puja For 11 Days Amid Expected Holiday Rush
Pandharpur
The Vitthal–Rukmini Temple in Pandharpur will halt Padya Puja from December 21 to 31 to manage large holiday crowds while regular darshan continues.
Pandharpur, December 08, 2025 – Pandharpur’s famous Vitthal–Rukmini Temple will temporarily suspend the Padya Puja ritual for eleven days as authorities brace for an unusually large wave of devotees during the holiday period. The decision, taken by the temple committee, applies from December 21 to December 31 and is aimed at maintaining crowd flow, safety and smoother darshan for visitors.
The temple, recognised as Maharashtra’s spiritual heart and central to the Warkari tradition, receives thousands of devotees every day. During festivals and vacations, the numbers rise dramatically. With Christmas and New Year holidays approaching, the administration expects a noticeable spike in footfall and has decided that managing the rush must take priority over optional rituals.
Temple officials said Padya Puja slows the movement of queues and increases pressure on security teams because the ritual requires devotees to remain close to the sanctum for longer periods. Under regular circumstances, five devotees at a time are allowed to perform the ritual by donating a specified amount. During high-rush days, this system becomes difficult to manage, leading to long waits and crowd congestion near the inner temple area.
Authorities believe that temporarily stopping the ritual will help distribute crowd movement more evenly and reduce delays for general darshan. They emphasised that regular darshan will continue without interruption throughout the period. According to the committee, the move is not a permanent change but a temporary crowd control measure that has been used during peak footfall in the past as well.
This temple holds significant cultural and emotional value for millions of Warkaris who consider Vitthal their family deity. Many devotees make special visits at the end of the year or during school holidays, making December one of the busiest periods. Local officials say additional staff, queue barricades and police support will be arranged to handle the large crowds expected this year.
The suspension of Padya Puja has received mixed reactions online. Some devotees expressed disappointment because the ritual holds personal and spiritual importance, while others welcomed the decision, saying crowd management must always come before ceremonial preferences. Social media discussions also highlighted the need for improved facilities and infrastructure during high-traffic seasons.
Temple authorities have appealed to devotees to cooperate and avoid unnecessary overcrowding near the main entrance and sanctum. They also requested senior citizens and families with children to plan visits carefully, keeping expected waiting times in mind.
As holiday travel picks up across Maharashtra, Pandharpur’s administration is preparing for several thousand additional visitors per day. If crowds exceed expectations, more restrictions or temporary diversions could be introduced. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that darshan remains smooth and safe while allowing as many devotees as possible to visit during the final days of the year.
