Alandi

The Samadhi of the great saint Dnyaneshwar is at Alandi on the banks of the river Indrayani near Pune. It was here that after completing his work of translating the Bhagwad Gita into Marathi, that Dnyaneshwar entered a cave for the highest penance of samadhi. It is at a distance of 25 km from Pune by road. A temple complex has been built near the place of the samadhi and is visited by thousands of pilgrims of the Varkari Sect. On every kartiki Ekadashi (eleventh day of the month of Kartik) a big festival is held here as the yatra (pilgrimage procession) reaches the town. The samadhi of Dnyaneshwar, Vitthal-Rukhumai temple, Siddhabet, and Dnyaneshwar's wall are important sites at Alandi. Dehu, the samadhi of Sant Tukaram is also close by. Alandi is also a place for mass-marriage ceremonies. If a father does not want to spend a lot on his daughter's marriage or if the bride and bride-groom have run away from their families, they can come to Alandi and get married. An Alandi marriage is therefore a derogatory term. Yet, Alandi as a religious place is venerated by all Hindus, across religious sects.