India, June 22 -- As a preventive measure to check crowding, citizen safety and smooth movement of palkhi procession, the Pune police have prohibited public entry to the Dive Ghat stretch, banning devotees from seeking darshan of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi from the popular viewing point this year.

The administration has issued orders restricting access to the ghat area, especially the top section, where large crowds typically gather to witness the palkhi's passage.

After two days of halt in the city, Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi will start their journey from Pune city towards Pandharpur via Dive Ghat on Sunday morning.

Rajkumar Shinde, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Zone 5, said, "Every year thousands of devotees gath...