Futuristic Rath, Massive Procession Mark 59th Sadhu Vaswani Yatra in Pune
Pune, 22nd November 2025: In a rare moment of pause amid a city that seldom slows down, thousands of devotees gathered in Pune on Saturday evening to celebrate the 59th Annual Rath Yatra organised by the Sadhu Vaswani Mission. The three-hour procession, held to mark the 146th birth anniversary of Sadhu T. L. Vaswani, turned the Pune Camp area into a moving cascade of hymns, devotion and messages of compassion.
The Yatra began at 5 pm and continued till 8 pm, with several artistically decorated floats carrying themes of peace, kindness and non-violence. Devotional singers performed bhajans and kirtans throughout the route, while hundreds of participants walked alongside chanting holy hymns. Many described the procession as a reminder of the Mission’s founding ideals — compassion for all living beings and a world free of cruelty.
A key highlight was the Rath itself, designed like a futuristic spacecraft and carrying a lifelike statue of Sadhu Vaswani as well as a standee of Dada J. P. Vaswani. As it moved along a 5-km stretch covering Council Hall, Poona Club, Dorabjee, Babajan Chowk, Mahatma Gandhi Road and other major points in Camp, large crowds gathered along the roadside to offer their respects.
Didi Krishna Kumari, Head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission, led the procession and distributed prasad to participants and onlookers. Two halts were made at Pudumjee Compound and Kohinoor Hotel, where she addressed the gathering and reiterated Sadhu Vaswani’s message of universal compassion. She urged people to observe International Meatless Day on November 25 and adopt a lifestyle grounded in non-violence.
Many families attended with young children. Dr. Vedika Ajwani, who brought her two children aged two and four, said, “From birth we have brought them to the Yatra so we could inculcate the values of reverence, love and compassion. We want them to immerse themselves in the tirtha-yatra and seek the blessings of saints.”
First held in 1966, the Rath Yatra has since evolved into a major annual spiritual event drawing devotees from across India and abroad. This year’s procession once again highlighted Sadhu Vaswani’s enduring appeal for kindness towards all living beings, especially animals, whom he described as “our brothers and sisters.”
The Mission will continue its celebrations in the coming days with Guru Gatha 1.0, a theatrical presentation on the life of Sadhu Vaswani on November 23, followed by a series of kirtan and satsang sessions.
Service activities will take place across the city, culminating on November 25 — observed worldwide as International Meatless Day — with an afternoon public langar and special satsangs continuing till midnight.
The annual Rath Yatra remains a powerful reminder of Sadhu Vaswani’s vision: a world where compassion transcends species and every being is treated with dignity, kindness and love.
