Major achievement for Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh as administration acts on its memorandum
Pandharpur, Maharashtra – In a major achievement for the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sachin Ithape has imposed a ban on the sale of meat, fish, and animal slaughter in Pandharpur from 15 to 29 July under Section 163(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
This order, which directly acts on the Mandir Mahasangh’s demand to declare Pandharpur a meat- and liquor-free town during the Ashadi Yatra, aims to preserve the religious sanctity and atmosphere as lakhs of Warkaris and devotees arrive for the darshan of Shri Vitthal-Rukmini. Similar restrictions have also been enforced in the neighbouring villages of Karkamb, Pandharewadi, Vhole, Devde, and Khedbhose from 20 to 25 July.
The Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh had previously submitted a memorandum to the District Collector demanding that Pandharpur be made a meat- and liquor-free zone during the Yatra.
Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh demands meat and liquor ban in Pandharpur during Ashadi Yatra
July 10, 2026
Solapur, Maharashtra – Against the backdrop of the Ashadhi Yatra, the ‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’ has submitted a memorandum to the District Collector demanding that Pandharpur be declared a liquor- and meat-free town during the period from 22 to 29 July. Tehsildar Saraswati Patil accepted this memorandum.
The memorandum states that lakhs of Warkaris and devotees visit Pandharpur during the Ashadhi Yatra. Therefore, to maintain the sanctity and religious traditions of the pilgrimage, the administration should issue orders banning the sale of liquor and meat in the town during this period.
Present on this occasion were Vinod Rasal, the District Coordinator of Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, Dhananjay Bokade, and Rohan Kalashetti. Trustees, priests, and Purohits of 15 temples signed this memorandum.
Among the signatories were Santosh Pujari, priest of Mahasiddha Devasthan; Narayan Dubhashi of Vaishnav Maruti Devasthan; Srinivas Gurram of Shri. Hanuman Mandir (Jod Basvanna Chowk); Prakash Channa of Poshma Devasthan; Abasaheb Shinde of Vyankatesh Devasthan (Patkul); as well as Vyankatesh Jilla, Balraj Dontul, and Vinayak Kore from the Purohit Organisation.
