User:Saeekiranbinorkar

Pandharpur Wari
On the 11TH Day of the bright moon in the month of Aashaad many devotees of the Warkari clan, singing & dancing all the way to the temple town of Pandharpur, to have a glimpse of Lord Vitthal. Sant Dnyaneshwar who started & other sant like Tukaram, Eknath, and other promoted the same to educate the rural people. They were reach to Pandharpur from different small villages where they talk to people and develope the awareness in the rural people. However the Warkari clan has developed entirely due to the patronage of the people. This is perhaps because it is a people’s movement – constantly working towards creating awareness about devotion & righteousness. People told that when in the month of Aashadh there is no work for farmers and they waiting for the rain in their farms. They went to Pandharpur to have a glimpse of Lord Vithal and to request him to keep them happy by providing saficient rain water to produce sufficient agricultural product. On the 8TH Day of the waning moon in the month of Jyeshtha (June) Sant Tukaram would to go to Alandi to pay a visit to Sant Dnyaneshwar’s Tomb & on the 9TH Day he would continue in the direction of Pandharpur. After his death, his younger brother Kanhola & later his Son Narayan Baba continued to follow the tradition. On the 7TH day, Narayan Baba would keep Sant Tukaram’s Padukas (footwear) in the Palkhi (Palanquin), on the 8TH day he would go to Alandi to keep Sant Dnyaneshwar’s Padukas in the same Palkhi. The next day he would set off on his journey to Pandharpur. This custom was followed from 1680 to 1832. From 1829 to 1832 there was a conflict between the descendants of Sant Tukaram More, on the rights of servitude. In 1832, Haibat Baba Pawar Arfalkar, a Sardar of Shinde from Gwalior started a separate Palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar from Alandi in order to avoid the consequences of the conflict in the More family on the whole tradition. From then onwards, Sant Dnyaneshwar’s Palkhi & Sant Tukaram’s Palkhi arrive separately to Pandharpur. The Sardar was also helped by Sardar Shitole of Ankali. The names of Khandobaji Baba and his cymbal player Shedge Baba also featured amongst the aides of Haibat Baba. And so the order of dindis (groups) with the Palkhis was fixed: first that of Alandikar, then that of Khandobaji Baba, followed by Shedge Baba. After a few years the conflict in the more household terminated. Since Sant Dnyaneshwar’s palanquin procession was being conducted separately, Sant Tukaram’s Palkhi was taken independently through Dehu City via Pune City to Pandharpur. Today, Sant Tukaram’s Palkhi procession starts from Dehu & reaches Pandharpur via Aakurdi, Pune. Lonikalbhor, Yavat, Varvand, Baramati, Indapur, Akluj & Wakhri respectively. Sant Dnyaneshwar’s Palkhi goes through the cities of Alandi, Pune, Saswad, Jejuri, Lonand, Faltan, Natepute, Malshiras, Velapur, Shegaon & Wakhri to Pandharpur. Both the Palkhis meet at Wakhri and proceed to Pandharpur. In this procession, a wide variety of people from all social and economic backgrounds flow into the sea of Warkaris and worship with same fervour & devotion. They walk 250 Km. to seek the blessings of Pandurang (Lord Vitthal) in Pandharpur. The Warkari, who had left for Pandharpur chanting the names of saints all the way, returns home with renewed zeal. The clan’s activities were considerable considering the period when women’s rights & liberation weren’t even taken into account. Sant Dnyaneshwar’s sister Muktabai (1279 – 1297), his servant Janabai (1260 – 1353), Sant Tukaram’s disciple Bahinabai (1628 – 1708) proved to be effective poets. In times when women were discouraged from worshipping & striving for salvation, they proved otherwise. So women too joined in large numbers in this pilgrimage as Malkaris. The Palkhi’s timetable is well defined & strictly followed. Early dawn, after worshipping the Saint’s footwear, the palkhi sets out exactly at six. A Tutari (wind instrument) is blown thrice to alert the Warkaris. At the first signal, the Warkaris get ready to leave. At the second signal the Dindis [groups] stand in a queue for the Palkhi procession & at the third one, the procession starts off. After covering 4 – 5 Km. the Warkaris halt for half an hour for Breakfast. They then proceed until they stop again later – this time for Lunch when they make their first offerings to the Lord.

''"Jai Jai Ram Krishna Hari"

"Dnyaneshwar Mauli Tukaram''

"Dnyanoba Mauli Tukaram''