Paule chalati Pandharichi wat......A Journey to Pandharpur.

Gyanoba..Mauli...Tukaram. Gyanoba..Mauli...Tukaram. ..Vithal Vithal ... Pandurang... Pandurang.
The sound of this sweet lines are started on the roads of Pune every year in the month of Ashadi. The Warkaries who are really geart bhakt of god Vithal, I wish to give them a grand salute. These people who don't care about the distance, rain or hot weather and travels hundreds of kilometers. Here are some lines which I wish to share.....

History:
In the state of Maharashtra the month of Ashadh is very important in the eyes of Waarkaries(devotees). In this month Ashadhi Ekadasi Waari of Pandharpur which culminates on the ekadasi day in Ashadi month. Millions of people participate in the Pandarpur Yatra and the journey is known as Waari in Marathi, meaning a holy pilgrimage. The three-week long walk by foot from Dehu to Pandarpur covers nearly 450 kilometers. The aim of all the Warkaris is to reach Pandharpur and offer their respects to Lord Vithal, an incarnation of Lord Krishna, and emulate Sant Jnaneshwar(1275-1296) (ज्ञानेश्वर in Marathi) and Sant Tukaram(1608-1650). Pandharpur is one of the most famous pilgrimage in state of Maharastra. This Yatra is annual pilgrimage trek of 21 days. This year Pandharpur yatra palki of great saint Tukaram Maharaj will start on 3rd July and will end on 21st July on Ashadi Ekadasi.

The yatra begins from the Sant Tukaram temple at Dehu (is about 30 kms from the city of Pune and about 130 kms from Mumbai) and ends at Vitthala Rukmini temple at Pandharpur. The Saint Dyaneshwar Palki which starts from Alandi Devachi (is about 25 kms from the city of Pune and about 151 kms from Mumbai) after Sant Tukaram's Palkhi and these two then meet at Pune during the pilgrimage. From here they take different route and meet at Wakhri near Pandarpur.

The picture above shows the images of Saint Dyaneshwar(left) and Sant Tukaram.

Pandharpur temple
Pandharpur is located in Solapur district of Maharashtra. It is known for Vithoba temple or Vitthal Rukmini temple. The temple is located on the banks of the Bhima river, also known as Chandrabhaga. It is about 65 km west of Sholapur. The nearest airport is Pune which is 204 kms from Pandharpur. It is well connected by railways and Kurduwadi railway junction but the convenient railhead is Solapur that is about 72 kms from the shrine. At the end of this yatra i.e. when the Palkis reaches Pandharpur, all the Warkaris takes bath in the Chandrabhaga and then starts in the queue to meet the Vithoba.

Image: The picture above shows Vithoba-Rukhumai.

Pandharichi Waari
It is one of the most famous pilgrimage in Maharastra that draws more than 10 lakh devotees. There are many Palkis which starts and meets on the same day at Pandharpur. The very famous ones are Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palaki, Dehu(Pune), Sant Dyaneshwar Mauli Palki, Alandi Devachi(Pune), Sant Nivrutinath Maharaj Palki, Trimbakeshwar(Nashik).
There are 2 yatras in a year, one during Ashadhi ekadasi and another during Kartik Ekadasi. It is believed that Pandharpur Ashadhi ekadasi wari has been taking place for more than 700 years, first started by the parents of Saint Dyaneshwar in the 13th century. The procession that is there in the current form was started by Tukaram’s son Narayana maharaj. This yatra of Pandharpur is an unparalleled pilgrimage that breaks barriers of caste, creed, rich and poor. The main palaki, the Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi procession starts at the Dehu temple and numerous other palkhis are taken from other towns and villages that join on the way. This yatra is a classic example of unparalleled devotion to a personal deity of Lord Panduranga. Thousands and thousands of devotees take part in the yatra and every year the number only increases. Young-old, rich-poor, able-disable, all sorts of people walk barefooted chanting the holy names of Lord Vitthala. People are seen blissful who chant and dance. The yatra travels to Pune city, Alandi and finally reach Pandharpur on 21st day on the previous day of Ashadhi Ekadasi.
The Sant just don't say they do as they say. Like Sant Tuakram who said "jati dharma sarwa amangal (Religion-Caste all are Portentous) " the Sant Tukaram Palki stops at Hajrat Sayyad Angadshah baba Dargha, every warkari visit this Dargha every year while traveling to Pandharpur and takes the blessing from this Dargha.

This yatra shows how to live, how to think, how to work and lot more things about life. The all warkaries are the great inspiration to me...... hope such kind of Yatras keep going.... Gyanoba..Mauli...Tukaram. Gyanoba..Mauli...Tukaram. ..Vithal Vithal ... Pandurang... Pandurang.