Alandi

Geography

Alandi (18°40?37.42?N 73°53?47.76?E) is located on the banks of the Indrayani River, 25 km (16 mi) north of Pune, India. It has an average elevation of 577 metres (1,893 feet).

Economy

Since Alandi is a major place of pilgrimage, the economy of the town revolves around that activity. Although the major festivals are held only twice a year, pilgrims from all over Maharashtra come to Alandi throughout the year. The different needs of the pilgrims are catered for by different groups of Brahmins who officiate at the samadhi, or weddings or at the religious services to the bereaved respectively. There are a large number of vendor outside the main temple complex that offer materials for worshipping at the samadhi such as garlands, turmeric etc. These vendors also do good business in religious Souvenirs and books. Most Marathi Hindu castes have built Dharmashalas that offer accommodation to pilgrims of their respective castes. The temple holds its biggest festival in the second half of the Shaka month of Kartik. This festival attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees to the town. It is also a great seasonal opportunity for the local population to earn extra income by offering accommodation and catering services to the visitors. The local Municipal council also collects pilgrim tax or Goods tax to pay for public health provision. The tax has generated resentment amongst the devotees in the past.

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