​Pilgrims receive foot care service at Paithan; as palkhi procession leaves for Pandharpur

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Scores of pilgrims received the benefit of ‘Charan Seva’, a special foot care service, offered by health workers during the departure of the annual palkhi procession of Sant Eknath Maharaj at Paithan from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Tuesday.

The palkhi procession has a tradition of around 427 years and it left for Pandharpur with festive zeal and fervour.The service was offered through joint efforts involving the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Charitable Hospital helpdesk, the district administration, Yashwantrao Chavan Ayurveda College and Hospital and MGM School of Physiotherapy among others before pilgrims embarked upon the 300km foot journey towards the temple town of Pandharpur in Solapur district.“Special charan seva camps and free medical service camps were organized at the Sant Eknath Maharaj temple in Paithan. The services were offered in accordance with the warkari tradition’s core value that service is the supreme dharma. We were glad that our efforts received an enthusiastic response from the pilgrims,” said Dr Balaji Gore, medical officer, Chief Minister’s relief fund cell at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

He said pilgrims arrive at Paithan from different parts of Marathwada with many of them preferring walking.“Extensive walking causes blisters, swelling, or muscle strain among several devotees. The charan seva helps in relieving their pain,” Dr Gore added.The foot care service was inaugurated by Raghunath Maharaj Gosavi , a descendant of Sant Eknath Maharaj in the presence of members from various govt departments, political circles and social spheres.