Pune: For the first time in several decades, the revered Bhimashankar Temple—one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva—remained closed to devotees on the occasion of Mahashivratri on Sunday, according to local residents and temple priests.Located about 150km from Pune, the shrine is a major pilgrimage centre and draws lakhs of devotees every year, especially on Mahashivratri.Keeping with age-old customs, the traditional Mahapuja was performed in the early hours by Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi. The ritual took place in the presence of temple trustees and priests, even as public darshan remained suspended.“This is unprecedented in recent memory. The temple never remained closed on Mahashivratri for at least the last 1 century, except during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Madhukar Gavandi, chief priest of the Bhimashankar temple.He added that although the district administration had informed the public in advance about the closure, hundreds of devotees still travelled to the pilgrim town hoping for darshan of the temple’s main Kalash.Situated in the Sahyadri ranges, Bhimashankar is considered one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in Maharashtra. Officials said the decision to close the temple on such an important religious occasion was taken in view of ongoing conservation and redevelopment works aimed at preserving the ancient structure.District authorities said the restoration and redevelopment project would continue for the next few months to ensure the temple is fully prepared ahead of the Nashik Kumbh Mela scheduled next year. The works include structural conservation, safety upgrades and improvements to pilgrim facilities.While many devotees expressed disappointment over being unable to offer prayers on Mahashivratri, temple authorities and local residents appealed for patience, stating that the measures were necessary to safeguard the historic shrine for future generations. Officials maintained that religious traditions were respected through the performance of rituals, even as public access was temporarily restricted in the interest of conservation and safety.
