WALK OF LIFE

while driving to work this morning...i saw many pandals and a lot of hustle of policemen.. for a moment i thought ...is ganes h festival approaching..or is there a minister ralley ....then i realized that all this was for the Warkaris going to Pandharpur.

With shelter, meals, medicine & music Pune plays perfect host
PUNE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, LOCAL GANESH MANDALS AND PEOPLE LIKE US CHIP IN TO HELP 3 LAKH WARKARIS

FAITH and an unbroken 700-year-old tradition make lakhs of Warkaris from all over the State accompany the palkhis of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar from Dehu and Alandi to Pandharpur. As followers of the Bhagwat sect, a faith prevalent in Maharashtra, the pilgrims walk the 230 km distance, like both the poet-sants did, in a fortnight to be present at the Vitthal-Rukmini temple on Ashadhi Ekadashi. On Thursday, Pune will play host to the Warkaris who halt here for two days.

Arches, fairy lights and posters of the traffic police department are up, various Halls are getting ready ,where Warkaris will have their meals. People from all walks join to aid the Warkaris. From Pune up to Wakhri , Meddical vans, with Doctors equipped to deal with medical eventualities. Various sheds are set up to protect them from rains. Arrangements for tea, lunch and dinner are done at various places. Free medical camps, massage for senior citizens, repairing of chappals and umbrellas have been organised.
Keeping in step with the Warkaris will be the rhythms they carry with them — Tukaram’s abhangs, aartis and bhakti geets.

Cleaning of public roads is on. Children have a short vacation as some schools host a living place for the warkaris.

I really admire these warkaris who walk every year in such heavy rains for the faiththey have. Am sure others admire too..infact they do more than admiring they actually help the warkaris achieve their goal :)