India, June 21 -- PUNE The annual Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi processions arrived in Pune on Friday amid huge fanfare including the chanting of bhajans by lakhs of Warkaris (devotees).

So much so that the entire city reverberated with the sound of cymbals and drums accompanied by vigorous chants of 'Dnyanoba Mauli Tukaram'.

The Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi arrived from Alandi whereas the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi arrived from Dehu via Pimpri-Chinchwad. Both Palkhis took the old Pune-Mumbai highway, Fergusson College Road and Laxmi Road.

Pune municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and all office-bearers welcomed the Palkhi processions to the city.

The Warkaris had started arriving in the city Friday ...