Today is the day the पालख्या (Palkhya) stay in Pune, to start fresh tomorrow at day break. So many of the दिंड्या (groups/bands of pilgrims) are staying around my mother’s house. A couple in the school building, a few in the warehouses made available for them for the night. Early in the morning, one of the groups in the school walked towards the Ganesh temple singing bhajans to the rhythm of टाळ Taal and मृदंग Mrudunga. It is such a soothing sound. Listening to it after so many years brought tears to my eyes.

Later in the afternoon they gathered around the Datta temple, probably on the invitation of one of the shopkeepers behind the temple.

Another bhajan. This time men take the lead.