Karnataka youth drowns in Pandharpur's Chandrabhaga river

Mumbai: A youth from Belagavi district of Karnataka was drowned in the Chandrabhaga river in the pilgrimage town of Solapur district in Maharashtra coinciding with the Ashadi Wari festivities.

The deceased was identified as Shubham Pawale (27). The incident took place off the Pundalik temple.

Pawale was part of a group of friends from Belagavi district, who had come for the festivities.

The incident took place around 7.00 am on Friday morning when he had gone to the river for bathing rituals.

The temple town of Pandharpur in the Solapur district houses the Vithoba Temple, known as Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Mandir - dedicated to God Vithoba - a form/incarnation of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna and his consort Goddess Rakhumai.

The idol is called by different names Vithoba, Pandurang, Pandhari, Vithal, Vithalnath.

The temple is located on the banks of Chandrabhaga River.

There are hundreds of other temples in Pandharpur, which is often referred to as the Dakshin Kashi - which shows the importance and significance of the place - and lakhs of people visit during the Ashadi festivities.