Pune’s major temples will remain open throughout Dussehra for devotees, with special arrangements including separate queues, maha aarti schedules, accessible viewing options and route guidance at several locations. The measures are intended to help devotees access the temples safely and with fewer disruptions during the festival.
According to a report by Lokmat, thousands of devotees are expected to visit temples dedicated to goddesses across Pune and its surrounding areas on Vijayadashami, which marks the conclusion of Navratri. Temple authorities have planned special darshan arrangements, while access and traffic considerations vary by location.
At the Shri Chaturshringi Devi Temple on Senapati Bapat Road, darshan will be available throughout the day. Maha aarti will be held at 10 am and 8 pm. The main shrine is located on a hill and requires devotees to climb more than 100 steps. A replica temple has been created at the foothill for people who cannot use the stairs. Buses are available from Pune Railway Station and the Pune Municipal Corporation area towards Senapati Bapat Road.
The Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple in Budhwar Peth will also remain open throughout the day. Devotees can walk to the temple from Shaniwar Wada or the Dagdusheth Ganpati Temple, while access is also possible from Appa Balwant Chowk and the central Budhwar Peth area. Since the temple is located within the old city’s dense market district, parking is not available, and the area is expected to experience heavy footfall during Navratri and Dussehra.
The Shri Mahalakshmi Temple opposite Sarasbaug will be accessible throughout the day and can be reached from the Swargate bus station, which is about five minutes away. The temple houses marble idols of Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali. Visitors arriving by private vehicle can use parking near Sarasbaug. The Bhavani Mata Temple in Bhavani Peth, an ancient shrine dedicated to Shri Tulja Bhavani, will also remain open throughout the day. The temple can be reached by bus or auto-rickshaw from Swargate and Pune Railway Station, and hosts hom-havan and a palkhi procession during Navratri.
In the southern parts of the city, the Taljai Mata Temple on Taljai Hill in Sahakar Nagar will be open throughout the day. The hill can be accessed from Dhanakawadi and Sahakar Nagar, with private vehicles described as the most convenient option. Parking is available around the temple. The Padmavati Devi Temple near the Padmavati bus stop on the Pune-Satara Road will also be accessible throughout the day, with buses from Swargate towards Katraj stopping nearby.
The Aai Mata Temple in Kondhwa-Gangadham and the Amba Mata Temple in Sukh Sagar Nagar, Katraj, will also remain open throughout Dussehra. The Aai Mata Temple can be reached from the Gangadham Chowk–Shatrunjay Temple Road and is expected to see greater crowds during the evening aarti. The Amba Mata Temple is accessible by local rickshaws from Katraj Depot. The Piwali Jogeshwari Temple in Shukrawar Peth will be open throughout the day, but visitors should note that parking is unavailable in the old city area. It can be reached on foot from the Dagdusheth Ganpati and Tambdi Jogeshwari temple areas.
