PUNE, July 18, 2013: Devotees can now make online bookings for their visit to the Vitthal Rukmini temple at Pandharpur ahead of the Ashadhi Ekadashi on Friday. The district administration has set up an online system that will provide applicants with specific time slots for the 'darshan' so that they do not have to wait in long queues outside the temple. The palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram will reach Pandharpur on Friday.

Pune divisional commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh on Wednesday said the online booking system was introduced during Ashadhi Ekadashi last year on an experimental basis. "We allotted a total of 2,000 time slots last year. This year, we have already received as many as 18,000 applications so far. Applicants from rural areas, who have no access to internet can approach the respective taluka offices in their areas to receive assistance for online registration," he said.

More bookings are being accepted through the system this year. Devotees can approach the tehsil offices in their respective areas to register for an online Darshan slot. About 18,000 applications have already been received so far requesting time slots.

Applicants will have to go to the temple's website and get their names registered in the prescribed format along with a photograph that one has to upload on the website. For those who do not have access to internet, the taluka offices have been asked to click a photograph of the applicants and send it to the temple administration in Pandharpur via e-mail. Deshmukh said devotees who have registered online are expected to arrive at the temple about an hour before the 'darshan' begins.

"Lakhs of devotees visit Pandharpur every year on Ashadhi Ekadashi. The authorities have observed that the devotees have to wait in long queues outside the Vitthal Rukmini

temple for more than 20 hours. Introduction of the online system will help reduce the waiting period," Deshmukh said. He pointed out that besides introduction of the online booking process, the administration will also continue with the ongoing system wherein devotees wait in the queue for 'darshan'. "We expect an increase of 25% in the number of devotees visiting Pandharpur this year as compared to the last couple of years. More than nine lakh devotees are expected to visit Pandharpur on Friday," Deshmukh said.

The administration is planning to start online booking centres in Pandharpur from next year. Besides, they are also speaking to the heads of warkari groups to create awareness about appeal to them to make online bookings.

Meanwhile, the administration has said elaborate arrangements have been made at Pandharpur for Ashadhi Ekadashi. About 60 additional tankers have been deployed to provide drinking water. Encroachments along the roads in Pandharpur have been removed to allow free flow of traffic.

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 18, 2013.