No tiffin for Mumbaikars for 2 days as Dabbawalas take part in Pandharpur pilgrimage

Mumbaikers will not receive their lunchboxes on Friday and Saturday as the city's beloved Dabbawalas will be off duties to take part in the annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur on the occasion of 'Ashadhi Ekadashi'.

The tiffin services will resume from Sunday.

"The tiffin services will be halted on July 12 and July 13, " said President of Mumbai Dabbawala Association, Subhash Talekar.

The Dabbawalas will also offer prayers to saint Gyaneshwar later in the day and will then proceed to Pandharpur.

Besides Dabbawalas, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also offered prayers at Vitthal Temple in Pandharpur in the early hours of Friday.

Lord Vitthal's puja commences in Pandharpur town every year with lakhs of devotees from different states taking part.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday tweeted about Pandharpur and its connection with Ashadhi Ekadashi. "The beautiful town of Pandharpur in Maharashtra has a special link with Ashadhi Ekadashi. Know more in this video," he wrote alongside a video featuring hoards of pilgrimage and the majestic puja of Lord Vitthal.

The occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi is dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu across many states in India. Some also observe fast to seek prosperity and attain moksha later in life.