PM Modi inaugurates ‘Shila’ temple in Dehu, pays respects to Sant Tukaram

The warkaris welcomed the PM at the temple by singing the song ‘Gyanba Tukaram’; his visit has come just before the annual ‘wari’ (pilgrimage) tradition, which will begin on June 20 from Dehu.

NewsBharati    15-Jun-2022 11:17:07 AM
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Pune, June 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a shila (rock) temple at the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Mandir dedicated to the 17th-century saint at Dehu near Pune.

PM Modi
 
Sant Tukaram was born in Dehu and is known for his devotional poetry called ‘Abhangas’, and community worship with spiritual recitations known as ‘kirtans’. PM Modi visited the Vitthal Rukmini temple upon arrival in Pune.
 
 
Around 50,000 warkaris were present at the venue for the PM's address. PM Modi too was dressed in a traditional warkari attire and was presented with a designer ‘Tukaram pagdi’ made by Girish Murudkar, who has designed ‘pagdis’ for noted personalities such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Bal Thackeray, Prince Charles, etc.

The ‘warkaris’ welcomed the PM at the temple by singing the song ‘Gyanba Tukaram’. His visit has come just before the annual ‘wari’ (pilgrimage) tradition, which will begin on June 20 from Dehu.

“Sant Tukaram was a Warkari saint and poet, famously known for Abhanga devotional poetry and community-oriented worship through spiritual songs known as Kirtans. He lived in Dehu. A Shila Mandir was built after his demise, but it was not formally structured as a Temple. It has been rebuilt in stone masonry with 36 peaks, and also carries an idol of Sant Tukaram,” said reports.
 
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Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and Pune MP Girish Bapat welcomed the PM at the Pune airport.

PM Modi carried out the ceremony of the Palkhi route along with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Once the route is complete, the ‘warkaris’ will get a safe passage for ‘wari’.

The ‘Palkhi Marg’, which was given the status of National Highway, will have dedicated lanes for warkaris. The PM also announced the upgradation of the highways approaching the temple town from all directs, at a cost of Rs 1,180 crore.