PANDHARPUR WARI : As per the tradition of more than 300 years, around 100,000 devotees(warkaris) start their march from Dehu and Alandi to reach the holy town of Pandharpur @225Kms apart. The march is systematically planned to have sufficient halts in villages on way and reach Pandharpur on the day of Ashadhi Ekadashi. This journey is known as Wari. In the Wari, participant warkaris are undaunted by natural impediments (rain or shine, winds and darkness) and hardships of the walk. This is because of their faith and conviction that they would be able to meet their Lord (Vitthal) since the lord, MAULI is by their side, caring and guiding them through this pilgrimage. While on the Wari some faithfuls do not consume even a drop of water during the day. The Wari is a procession accompanying the PALKHI (palanquin) carrying the PADUKAS (foot wear / replica of sandals of saints). Many more Warkari groups called Dindis join the wari on way and by the time it reaches its destination the no. of devotees increase to @500,000. The devotees are greeted and treated like Gods by the villagers on the way. While the pilgrims walk all the way to their halts, they are accompanied and followed by their support vehicles containing tents, ration and other essential things. In the above image warkaris are walking along the road as Pune to Kolhapur passenger is moving towards its next halt at Daundaj.
As per the tradition of more than 300 years, around 100,000 devotees(warkaris) start their march from Dehu and Alandi to reach the holy town of Pandharpur @225Kms apart. The march is systematically planned to have sufficient halts in villages on way and reach Pandharpur on the day of Ashadhi Ekadashi. This journey is known as Wari.
In the Wari, participant warkaris are undaunted by natural impediments (rain or shine, winds and darkness) and hardships of the walk. This is because of their faith and conviction that they would be able to meet their Lord (Vitthal) since the lord, MAULI is by their side, caring and guiding them through this pilgrimage. While on the Wari some faithfuls do not consume even a drop of water during the day.
The Wari is a procession accompanying the PALKHI (palanquin) carrying the PADUKAS (foot wear / replica of sandals of saints). Many more Warkari groups called Dindis join the wari on way and by the time it reaches its destination the no. of devotees increase to @500,000.
The devotees are greeted and treated like Gods by the villagers on the way.
While the pilgrims walk all the way to their halts, they are accompanied and followed by their support vehicles containing tents, ration and other essential things. In the above image warkaris are walking along the road as Pune to Kolhapur passenger is moving towards its next halt at Daundaj.