Pune, Sept. 16 -- Thousands of women gathered early Tuesday outside the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganapati Trust pandal in Pune to take part in the annual Atharvashirsha recital on the occasion of Rushi Panchami.

The gathering saw women dressed in traditional attire as they came together for the recital, with devotional chants filling the area.

Speaking to ANI, BJP leader and Corporator Aishwarya Pathare said the event was organised after women from the area requested that the tradition be brought closer to their homes. She said the first edition of the local event received a "huge response".

"Every year, most women from here go to the Dagdusheth Temple for the Atharvasirsha, but the distance is too much. Women insisted tha...