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{{Merge from|Dindi festival|discuss=Talk:Pandharpur Wari#Proposed merge of Dindi festival into Pandharpur Wari|date=August 2021}}
{{Short description|Annual religious pilgrimage in western India}}
{{Copy edit|date=August 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
[[File:Syayambhuvithoba.jpg|thumb|right|The Wari is undertaken in honour of the god [[Vithoba]].]]
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name  = Pandharpur Vari
| image        = A procession Palkhi festival Hindu culture religion rites rituals sights.jpg
| caption      = A procession of Palkhi to [[Pandharpur]]
| type          = Hindu
| longtype      = Spiritual
| observedby    = [[Hindus|Hindu]]
| begins        =
| ends          =
| date2024      = 28 June - 16 July
| date2025      = 18 June - 6 July
| date2026      = 19 June - 7 July
| frequency    = Annual
| nickname      = Palkhi
| duration      = 20 days
| date          =
}}


'''Pandharpur Wari''' or '''Wari''' pronounced ''vaaree,'' is an annual pilgrimage ([[yatra]]) to the town of [[Pandharpur]], in the Indian state of [[Maharashtra]], to honor the deity of [[Hindu god|Hindu God]] [[Vithoba|Vitthal]].The wari involves carrying the [[paduka]] (a type of wooden slippers or footprints) of a saint (Sant in [[Marathi language|marathi]]) in a [[palkhi]], most notably of [[Sant Dnyaneshwar]] and [[Sant Tukaram]], from their respective [[Samadhi (shrine)|shrines]] to Pandharpur. Thousands of warkaris or pilgrims join this procession on foot. Warkari is a Marathi term which means "one who performs the Wari" or "one who venerates the Vithoba". The tradition is more than 700 to 800 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punebuzz.com/pandharpur-yatra-ekadashi-pandharpur-wari/|title=Pandharpur Wari 2015, Schedule, Route and Pandharpur Yatra Videos|date=8 June 2015|website=Punebuzz.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/warkari-wave-sweeps-pune-city-pimpri-chinchwad/|title=Warkari wave sweeps Pune city, Pimpri-Chinchwad|date=22 June 2014|website=Indianexpress.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tourismpune.com/2015/07/pandharpur-palkhi-wari.html|title=Pandharpur Palkhi Sohala 2015|website=Tourismpune.org|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>
[[File:Syayambhuvithoba.jpg|thumb|100px|right|The Vari is undertaken in honour of the god [[Vithoba]].]]
'''Pandharpur Vari''', or '''Vari''' is a ''[[yatra]]'' to [[Pandharpur]], [[Maharashtra]], to honor [[Vithoba]]. It involves carrying the ''[[paduka]]'' of a saint in a ''[[palkhi]]'', most notably of [[Dnyaneshwar]] and [[Tukaram]], from their respective [[Samadhi (shrine)|shrines]] to Pandharpur. Many pilgrims join this procession on foot. ''[[Warkari|Varkari]]'' is a Marathi term which means "one who performs the V''ari''". The tradition is more than 700 to 800 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punebuzz.com/pandharpur-yatra-ekadashi-pandharpur-wari/|title=Pandharpur Wari 2015, Schedule, Route and Pandharpur Yatra Videos|date=8 June 2015|website=Punebuzz.com|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-date=27 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727041100/http://www.punebuzz.com/pandharpur-yatra-ekadashi-pandharpur-wari/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/warkari-wave-sweeps-pune-city-pimpri-chinchwad/|title=Warkari wave sweeps Pune city, Pimpri-Chinchwad|date=22 June 2014|website=Indianexpress.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tourismpune.com/2015/07/pandharpur-palkhi-wari.html|title=Pandharpur Palkhi Sohala 2015|website=Tourismpune.org|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-date=27 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927081946/http://www.tourismpune.com/2015/07/pandharpur-palkhi-wari.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Marches on foot from various locations in Maharashtra to [[Vithoba temple, Pandharpur]], attract over a million pilgrims.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/cover-story/this-years-wari-moves-towards-greener-pastures/articleshow/69624747.cms|title=This year's wari moves towards greener pastures; plantation drive to be undertaken on widened Mangalwedha-Pandharpur stretch|last1=Nitnaware|first1=Himanshu NitnawareHimanshu|last2=Jun 3|first2=Pune Mirror {{!}} Updated|website=Pune Mirror|language=en|access-date=2019-10-15|last3=2019|last4=Ist|first4=07:47}}</ref> The journey takes 21 days. Numerous palakhis join the main Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar palakhis along the way. Two specific pilgrimages honor the two most revered palakhis, starting from their towns located in [[Pune district]] of Maharashtra: Sant Dnyaneshwar's palakhi leaves from the town of [[Alandi]], while Sant Tukaram's begins at [[Dehu]]. The Wari culminates at the Vithoba temple on the holy occasion of [[Ashadhi Ekadashi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.incredibleindia.org/en/experience-india/fairs-and-festivals/49-july/16-ashadi-ekadashi-pandharpur|title=Ashadi Ekadashi, Pandharpur|website=Incredibleindia.org|access-date=11 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730022512/http://www.incredibleindia.org/en/experience-india/fairs-and-festivals/49-july/16-ashadi-ekadashi-pandharpur|archive-date=30 July 2015}}</ref> Devotees from all over Maharashtra and nearby areas set out for Pandharpur, wearing [[Tulsi|holy basil]] beads and singing the glories of Vithoba and songs like "Gyanba Tukaram", commemorating the saints.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Elaborate-arrangements-for-Sant-Tukaram-Maharaj-palkhi-procession/articleshow/47974911.cms|title=Elaborate arrangements for Sant Tukaram Maharaj palkhi procession |newspaper=[[Times of India]]|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref> Upon reaching Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadashi, these devotees take a holy dip in the sacred [[Chandrabhaga River]]/[[Bhima River]] before proceeding to visit the Vitthal Temple.
Marches happen on foot from various locations in Maharashtra to [[Vithoba Temple]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/cover-story/this-years-wari-moves-towards-greener-pastures/articleshow/69624747.cms|title=This year's wari moves towards greener pastures; plantation drive to be undertaken on widened Mangalwedha-Pandharpur stretch|last1=Nitnaware|first1=Himanshu|date=June 3, 2019|website=Pune Mirror|language=en|access-date=2019-10-15|archive-date=13 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613112717/https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/cover-story/this-years-wari-moves-towards-greener-pastures/articleshow/69624747.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref> This [[yatra]] takes 21 days. Along the way, many other ''palkis'' join the two most revered ''palkhis.'' Starting from their towns located in the [[Pune district]] of Maharashtra: Sant Dnyaneshwar's ''palkhi'' leaves from [[Alandi]], while Tukaram's begins at [[Dehu]]. The V''ari'' culminates at the Vithoba Temple on the holy occasion of [[Shayani Ekadashi]] (Ashadi Ekadashi).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.incredibleindia.org/en/experience-india/fairs-and-festivals/49-july/16-ashadi-ekadashi-pandharpur|title=Ashadi Ekadashi, Pandharpur|website=Incredibleindia.org|access-date=11 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730022512/http://www.incredibleindia.org/en/experience-india/fairs-and-festivals/49-july/16-ashadi-ekadashi-pandharpur|archive-date=30 July 2015}}</ref> Devotees from across Maharashtra and nearby areas leave for Pandharpur, wearing [[Tulsi|holy basil]] beads and singing the glories of Vithoba and songs like "Dñyanbā Tukārām", commemorating the saints.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Elaborate-arrangements-for-Sant-Tukaram-Maharaj-palkhi-procession/articleshow/47974911.cms|title=Elaborate arrangements for Sant Tukaram Maharaj palkhi procession |newspaper=[[Times of India]]|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref> When they reach Pandharpur on Shayani Ekadashi, the devotees bathe in the sacred [[Bhima River]] before visiting the temple.


==History==
==History==


===Beginnings===
===Beginnings===
Various views exists on the origins of the Wari ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]: '''पंढरपूरची वारी''' or '''वारी'''). According to one theory, Vitthalpant, the father of the [[Varkari]] saint [[Dnyaneshwar]], began the Wari to visit [[Pandharpur]] in the Hindu months of [[Ashadha]] and [[Kartik (month)|Kartik]]. The tradition of performing a Wari is generally regarded to have existed for more than 800 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parikramaholidays.com/pdf/The-Pandharpur-Wari.pdf |title=Pandharpur Wari|publisher=Parikramaholidays}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsonair.com/PANDHARPUR-WARI.asp |title=PANDHARPUR WARI:PILGRIMAGE ON FOOT|publisher=[[All India Radio]]}}</ref>
Various views exist on the origins of the ''wari'' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]: पंढरपूरची वारी or वारी). According to one theory, Vitthalpant, the father of the [[Varkari]] saint [[Dnyaneshwar]], began the ''wari'' to visit [[Pandharpur]] in the Hindu months of [[Ashadha]] and [[Kartik (month)|Kartik]]. The tradition of performing a Vari is generally regarded to have existed for more than 800 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parikramaholidays.com/pdf/The-Pandharpur-Wari.pdf|title=Pandharpur Wari|publisher=Parikramaholidays|access-date=29 July 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064739/http://www.parikramaholidays.com/pdf/The-Pandharpur-Wari.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsonair.com/PANDHARPUR-WARI.asp|title=PANDHARPUR WARI:PILGRIMAGE ON FOOT|publisher=[[All India Radio]]|access-date=28 July 2015|archive-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620181005/http://www.newsonair.com/PANDHARPUR-WARI.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Another theory credits Saint Dnyaneshwar (13th century) and Saint Tukaram (17th century) to have started the pilgrimage. They used to perform  journey to Pandharpur by foot for fifteen days, reaching Pandharpur's [[Vithoba]] temple on [[Ashadhi Ekadashi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtratourism.net/festivals/palkhi-festival.html|title=Palkhi Festival|website=Maharashtrattourism.net|access-date=2017-08-11}}</ref>
Another theory credits [[Dnyaneshwar]] and [[Tukaram]] to have started the pilgrimage. They used to take a journey to Pandharpur by foot for 15 days, reaching Pandharpur's [[Vithoba Temple]] on [[Shayani Ekadashi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtratourism.net/festivals/palkhi-festival.html|title=Palkhi Festival|website=Maharashtrattourism.net|access-date=2017-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Gethe|first1=Subhash|title=Varkari Movement|url=https://www.academia.edu/4231089|access-date=8 September 2014}}</ref> The tradition of carrying the ''[[paduka]]'' of the saints was started by the Tukaram's youngest son, Narayan Maharaj, in 1685.
<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gethe|first1=Subhash|title=Varkari Movement|url=https://www.academia.edu/4231089|access-date=8 September 2014}}</ref>  
The tradition of carrying the ''paduka'' (sandals) of the saints was started by the youngest son of [[Tukaram]], Narayan Maharaj, in 1685.


===British era===
===British era===
Changes were brought to the pilgrimage in the 1820s by descendants of Tukaram and a devotee of Dnyaneshwar named Haibatravbaba Arphalkar, who was a courtier of [[Scindia]]s, the Maratha rulers of Gwalior.<ref>{{cite web|title=The wari tradition|url=http://www.warisantanchi.com/english/parampara2.html|website=Wari Santanchi|access-date=8 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908230750/http://www.warisantanchi.com/english/parampara2.html|archive-date=8 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Haibatravbaba is credited with the organization of the wari in use today. This involved carrying the paduka in a palkhi, having horses involved in the procession, and organizing the devotees or varkaris in Dindis (Dindi stands for a specific group of varkaris.).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mokashi|first1=Digambar Balkrishna|last2=Engblom|first2=Philip C (Translator)|title=Palkhi: An Indian Pilgrimage|date=1987|publisher=State University of New York Press|location=Albany|isbn=0-88706-461-2|page=18|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-5vIv4oxeh4C&pg=PA1}}</ref>
Changes were brought to the pilgrimage in the 1820s by Tukaram's descendants and a devotee of Dnyaneshwar named Haibatravbaba Arphalkar, who was a courtier of the [[Scindia]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=The wari tradition|url=http://www.warisantanchi.com/english/parampara2.html|website=Wari Santanchi|access-date=8 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908230750/http://www.warisantanchi.com/english/parampara2.html|archive-date=8 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Haibatravbaba is credited with the organization of the ''wari'' in use today. This involved carrying the ''paduka'' in a ''[[palkhi]]'', having horses involved in the procession, and organizing the devotees or varkaris in Dindis (Dindi stands for a specific group of varkaris).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mokashi |first1=Digambar Balkrishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-5vIv4oxeh4C&pg=PA1 |title=Palkhi: An Indian Pilgrimage |date=1987 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=0-88706-461-2 |location=Albany |page=18 |translator-last=Engblom |translator-first=Phillip C.}}</ref>
{{Location map+|Maharashtra |width=250 |float=right |caption= Location of Pandharpur and the starting place of important palkhis |places=
 
==Palkhi route==
{{Location map+|Maharashtra |width=350 |float=right |caption= Location of Pandharpur and the starting place of important palkhis in [[Maharashtra]]|places=
{{Location map~ |Maharashtra |lat=17.4040 |long=75.1940 |label=[[Pandharpur]]|position=bottom }}
{{Location map~ |Maharashtra |lat=17.4040 |long=75.1940 |label=[[Pandharpur]]|position=bottom }}
{{Location map~ |Maharashtra |lat=18.677062 |long=73.896600 |label=[[Alandi]]|position=bottom }}
{{Location map~ |Maharashtra |lat=18.677062 |long=73.896600 |label=[[Alandi]]|position=bottom }}
Line 27: Line 43:


}}
}}
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
==Wari in present times==
!Day
 
!Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi
The Warkaris -- whose patron deity is Vithoba -- undertake the annual pilgrimage (Wari) to Pandharpur, reaching there on a day before [[Ashadhi Ekadashi]], the eleventh lunar day ([[Ekadashi]]) of the bright fortnight ([[Shukla paksha]]) of the Hindu month of [[Ashadha]] (June-July). Pilgrims carry palanquins of the saints from the places of their respective [[Samadhi (shrine)]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsonair.com/PANDHARPUR-WARI.asp|title=Pandarpur Yatra - Pandharpur Ashadhi Ekadasi Wari Pilgrimage, Palkhi Festival - Palki Festival Maharashtra, Palkhi Festival Pandharpur India|website=www.newsonair.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parikramaholidays.com/pdf/The-Pandharpur-Wari.pdf|title=The Pandharpur Wari|website=Parikramaholidays.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}
!Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi
 
The Wari begins on the 8th/9th lunar day of the waning moon in the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu month]] of [[Jyeshtha (month)|Jyeshtha]] and reaches a day before [[Ashadhi Ekadashi]] at Pandharpur. People from various castes and socio-economic backgrounds participate in the Wari, with the common goal to reach Pandharpur and worship the deity. Along the Way the procession passes cities, towns and villages. The local residents of place along the route come out to greet, feed and house the varkari pilgrims.</ref><ref name="Lele1989">{{cite book|author=Jayant K. Lele|title=Language and Society: Steps Towards an Integrated Theory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1PLiAlGzLFQC&pg=PR7|date=1 January 1989|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-08789-3|page=26}}</ref>
 
===Dindi Organization===
The concept of Dindi or troupes of warkari devotees  was introduced by Haibatraobaba in early 1800s.Formation of dindi brought order to the processions and have remained an essential part of the wari.Each Dindi is headed  by a man or a woman. Some religious institutions and temples also have their own dindi. Accommodation, meals and other facilities to warkaris are provided through their respective Dindi. managing members of  a Dindi usually travel ahead of their dindi  ahead to make  arrangements for food and shelter at their next place of halt. All registered dindis are numbered and assigned their place in the procession. Some walk in front of the palkhi carriage and others behind the carriage. During their march,  flag and banner carrying members are at the front of the troupe, the drummer of the dindi occupies is at the center the dindi.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jones, J |first1=J |title=Pilgrimage and Audience on the Maharashtrian Vārī. |journal=Yale Journal of Music & Religion |date=2016 |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=115-132 |url=https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/yjmr/vol2/iss2/7/}}</ref>
 
Along with the Dindi (palakhi) procession, [[selfless service]] (''seva'') is performed for the poor and needy, like ''Amrut Kalash'' ( ''[[Dāna|annadana]],'' or donation of food), ''Narayan seva'', medical help, and building or repairing of rural infrastructure, is done. This is known as ''Seva Dindi''.
 
From the last two years a concept of "Niramal Wari" has also started to keep all villages clean during the possession of Wari. 
[[File:Tukaram Maharaj palkhi (palanquin).jpg|thumb|right|Tukaram Maharaj palakhi (palanquin)]]
 
It is believed that participation in Ashadhi Dindi and Seva Dindi helps an individual in many ways by bringing good health, peace and prosperity in their life. Chanting the continuous glory of the God in the Ashadhi Dindi procession and Seva Dindi purifies an individual. An inner cleansing is said to take place in Mind, Body and Spirit where the participants lose their individual identities and experience bliss. It develops all aspects of human personality and helps some to understand the true purpose of Life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dharmakshetra.org.in/news-archive/Dindi%20Yatra%202011.htm |title=Ashadi - Dindi Yatra/ Seva - Pathway to experience the omnipresence of the lord |publisher=Dharmakshetra.org.in |date= |access-date=2015-07-29}}</ref>
The event is said to be one of the World's largest and oldest movement where people gather on a specific day every year and walk for a distance of around 250&nbsp;km. Pandharpur's Ashadi Ekadashi Wari journey has been honoured by World Book of Records, London under the title 'One of the most visited places in a day'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldbookofrecords.uk/records/record_detail/shri-vitthal-rukmini-mandir--pandharpur--india-216|title=World Book of Records|website=worldbookofrecords.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-06-20}}</ref>
 
== Yatra routes ==
Waris are performed are two main routes: the Dehu - Pandharpur route for the Tukaram Palkhi and the Alandi - Pandharpur route for the Dnyaneshwar palkhi.
 
===Route of Tukaram Palkhi===
The pilgrims start the main pilgrimage from the town of Dehu on foot, carrying the Palkhi of Saint [[Tukaram]], who is a renowned devotee of Lord Vitthala, an incarnation of lord Vishnu. It is known as Sant Tukaram's Palkhi procession. It starts from Dehu and reaches Pandharpur via the towns of Akurdi, [[Loni Kalbhor]], Yavat, Varvand, [[Baramati]], [[Indapur]], [[Akluj]] and Wakhri respectively.
 
====Dehu - Pandharpur Palkhi Schedule (2019)====
{| class ="wikitable sortable collapsible"
! style="width: 5%;" | Day
! style="width: 15%;" | Date
! style="width: 15%;" | Starting Location
! style="width: 15%;" | First Break
! style="width: 15%;" | Lunch Break
! style="width: 15%;" class="unsortable" | Post lunch Break
! style="width: 15%;" class="unsortable" | Night Stay
|-
|-
| 1||24 June 2019||-- ||-- || -- || Start from [[Dehu]] Inamdar Saheb Wada, Dehu || Dehu
|1
|[[Dehu]]
|
|-
|-
| 2||25 June 2019|| Dehu ||1. Angadhshaha Baba Abhang Aarti 2. Chincholi Paduka Abhang Aarti || Nigdi || -- ||Aakurdi Vitthal Mandir
|2
|[[Akurdi]]
|[[Alandi]]
|-
|-
| 3||26 June 2019|| Aakurdi Vitthal Mandir  ||1. H. A Colony Pimpri Shri Vitthal Nagar 2. Kasarwadi|| Dapodi || 1. Shivajinagar 2. Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Paduka Mandir, F.C.Road, Pune ||Shri Nivdunga Vitthal Mandir, Nanapeth, [[Pune]]
|3
|[[Nana Peth, Pune|Nana Peth]]
|[[Bhavani Peth, Pune|Bhavani Peth]]
|-
|-
| 4||27 June 2019||-- ||-- ||-- ||-- || Shri Nivdunga Vitthal Mandir, Nanapeth, Pune
|4
|[[Hadapsar]]
|[[Pune]]
|-
|-
| 5||28 June 2019||Shri Nivdunga Vitthal Mandir, Nanapeth, Pune || Bhairobanala || [[Hadapsar]]
|5
||1. Manjari Farm 2. Loni Kalbhor Railway Station ||Loni Kalbhor Vitthal Mandir
|[[Loni Kalbhor]]
|[[Saswad]]
|-
|-
| 6||29 June 2019||[[Loni Kalbhor]] Vitthal Mandir ||Kunjeervadi Fata ||[[Urali Kanchan]] ||Jawjibuwachi Wadi ||Yavat Shri Bhairavnath Mandir
|6
|Yavat
|[[Saswad]]
|-
|-
| 7||30 June 2019||Yavat Shri Bhairavnath Mandir ||-- || Bhandgaon || Kedgaon-Chaufula||Varvand Shri Vitthal Mandir
|7
|Varvand
|[[Jejuri]]
|-
|-
| 8||1 July 2019||Varvand Shri Vitthal Mandir ||Bhagvat Vasti ||Patas  || 1. Roti, Abhang Aarati. 2. Hingani Wada 3. Vasunde 4. Kharadwadi||Undwadi Gavalyachi
|8
|[[Baramati]]
|Walhe
|-
|-
| 9||2 July 2019||Undwadi Gavalyachi || Undwadi Pathar|| Brhanpur ||1. Morewadi 2. Saraf Petrol Pump, Baramati ||Baramati Sanskrutik Bavan, Baramati
|9
|[[Indapur]]
|Lonand
|-
|-
| 10||3 July 2019|| Baramati Sanskrutik Bavan, Baramati ||1. Motibaug 2. 1.Pimpli Grape 3.Limitech || Katewadi || Bhavaninagar Sakhar Karkhana || Sansar Maruti Mandir
|10
|[[Akluj]]
|Taradgaon
|-
|-
| 11||4 July 2019|| Sansar Maruti Mandir || Belvadi(Golringan) || Belvadi || 1. Lasurne Junction  2. Lasurne || Nimgaon Ketki
|11
|[[Malshiras]]
|[[Phaltan]]
|-
|-
| 12||5 July 2019|| Nimgaon Ketki || 1. Tarangwadi-Cannol 2. Gokulicha Odha || Indapur(Golringan) ||-- || [[Indapur]]
|12
|Natepute
|Barad
|-
|-
| 13||6 July 2019|| Indapur||1. Gokulicha Odha, Vitthalwadi 2. Vadapuri 3. Surwad || Bawada || --|| Sarati
|13
|Velapur
|Natepute
|-
|-
| 14||7 July 2019|| Sarati|| Mane Vidyalay(Golringan)||-- ||-- || Akluj, Shri Vitthal Mandir
|14
|Pirachi Kuroli
|[[Malshiras]]
|-
|-
| 15||8 July 2019|| Akluj, Shri Vitthal Mandir|| Malinagar(Ubhe ringan)|| Malinagar ||1. Payaricha Pul 2. Kadam Vasti 3. Shripur Sakhar Karkhana || Borgaon (Borgav)
|15
|Bhandishegaon
|Velapur
|-
|-
| 16||9 July 2019|| Borgaon||-- || Malkhambi  ||1. Tondale Bondale(Dhava) 2. Tappa || Pirachi Kuroli Gayran
|16
|Wakhari
|Bhandishegaon
|-
|-
| 17||10 July 2019|| Pirachi Kuroli Gayran ||-- || Pirachi Kuroli || 1. Vaghad Vasti 2. Bhandi Shegaon 3. Bajirao Vihir Ubhe Ringan || Wakhari
|17
|colspan=2|Wakhari  
|-
|-
| 18||11 July 2019|| Vakhari||-- || -- || Paduka Abhang Aarti(Ubhe Ringan)
|18
|| [[Pandharpur]]
|colspan=2|[[Pandharpur]]
|-
|-
| 19||12 July 2019|| NagarPradlshana||-- || -- ||
|19
|| [[Pandharpur]]
|colspan=2|[[Vithoba Temple]]
|-
|}
| 20||16 July 2019|| Shri Vittal Rukmani Bhet||-- || -- ||
 
|| [[Pandharpur]]
==Wari in present times==
|-
{{Infobox
| 21||17 July 2019|| Particha Pravas Suru||-- || -- ||
| title            = ''Pandharpur Wari'' in Hinduism
||  
| image            = {{image array|perrow=2|width=150|height=120
|-
| image1 = Tukaram Maharaj palkhi (palanquin).jpg| caption1 = Tukaram Maharaj palakhi (palanquin)
|}[[File:Alandi Palki 08.jpg|thumb|Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi (palanquin), holding the footwear of the saint, is carried with honour in a silver bullock cart from Alandi to Pandharpur.]]
| image2 = Tukaram Maharaj palkhi (palanquin) Rath.jpg| caption2 = Tukaram Maharaj palkhi (palanquin) Rath
| image3 = DnyaneshwarMaharajPalkhiFestival2ndCircularRingan.jpg| caption3 = Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi 2nd Circular ringan. Near, Khudus Phata, Malshiras.
| image4 = Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi 3rd Circular ringan program .jpg| caption4 = Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi 3rd Circular ringan. Near, Thakur buva samadhi, Velapur.
| image5 = Pilgrims 1 (2731600954).jpg| caption5 =  Pilgrims bathing in the Chandrabhaga river at Pandharpur
| image6 = PHUGADI.jpg|caption6 = During the Palkhi the Warkaris play [[Fugdi|Phugadi]] games in the temple passage.
}}
}}


===Route of Dnyaneshwar palkhi===
The Warkaris—whose patron deity is Vithoba—undertake the ''wari'' to Pandharpur, reaching there on a day before Shayani Ekadashi, the eleventh lunar day ([[Ekadashi]]) of the bright fortnight ([[Shukla paksha|Shukla Paksha]]) of [[Ashadha]] (June–July). Pilgrims carry palanquins of the saints from the places of their respective [[Samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsonair.com/PANDHARPUR-WARI.asp|title=Pandarpur Yatra - Pandharpur Ashadhi Ekadasi Wari Pilgrimage, Palkhi Festival - Palki Festival Maharashtra, Palkhi Festival Pandharpur India|website=www.newsonair.com|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620181005/http://www.newsonair.com/PANDHARPUR-WARI.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parikramaholidays.com/pdf/The-Pandharpur-Wari.pdf|title=The Pandharpur Wari|website=Parikramaholidays.com|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064739/http://www.parikramaholidays.com/pdf/The-Pandharpur-Wari.pdf|url-status=dead}}
The pilgrims start from the town of Alandi in Pune district on foot, carrying the palkhi of Saint [[Dnyaneshwar]] and reaches Pandharpur via the cities of Pune, [[Saswad]], [[Jejuri]], Lonand, Taradgaon, [[Phaltan]], Natepute, Malshiras, Velapur, Shegaon and Wakhri to reach Pandharpur.


Both the main palkhis meet at Pune, then at Wakhari and then meet once again before reaching Pandharpur.
The Wari begins on the 8th/9th lunar day of the waning moon in the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu month]] of [[Jyeshtha (month)|Jyeshtha]] and reaches a day before [[Ashadhi Ekadashi]] at Pandharpur. People from various castes and socio-economic backgrounds participate in the Wari, with the common goal to reach Pandharpur and worship the deity. Along the Way the procession passes cities, towns and villages. The local residents of place along the route come out to greet, feed and house the varkari pilgrims.</ref><ref name="Lele1989">{{cite book|author=Jayant K. Lele|title=Language and Society: Steps Towards an Integrated Theory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1PLiAlGzLFQC&pg=PR7|date=1 January 1989|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-08789-3|page=26}}</ref>


Besides these, two more Waris in the Hindu months of [[Chaitra]] (or spring - first lunar month) and Maghi (eleventh month of the Hindu lunar calendar) Ekadashis are also deemed to be important. The latter two are particularly attended by devotees from neighbouring state of Karnataka.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warisantanchi.com/english/sankalpana.html|title=Warisantanchi|website=www.warisantanchi.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>
===Dindi===
The concept of '''Dindi''' (Marathi: दिंडी procession) or troupes of warkari devotees was introduced by Haibatravbaba in the early 1800s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mokashi |first1=Digambar Balkrishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-5vIv4oxeh4C&pg=PA1 |title=Palkhi: An Indian Pilgrimage |date=1987 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=0-88706-461-2 |location=Albany |page=18 |translator-last=Engblom |translator-first=Phillip C.}}</ref> A diṇḍī is a group of Hindu devotees of one caste or village who are part of a larger [[palkhi]] going to a holy site on pilgrimage. Some religious institutions and temples also have their own Dindi. Accommodation, meals, and other facilities for warkaris are provided through their respective Dindi. The Managing members of a Dindi usually travel ahead to make arrangements for food and shelter at their next stop. All registered Dindis are numbered and assigned their place in the procession. Some walk in front of the ''palkhi,'' and others behind it. During their march, flag and banner-carrying members are at the front of the troupe, and the drummer is at the center of the Dindi.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=J |title=Pilgrimage and Audience on the Maharashtrian Vārī. |journal=Yale Journal of Music & Religion |date=2016 |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=115–132 |doi=10.17132/2377-231X.1063 |url=https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/yjmr/vol2/iss2/7/|doi-access=free }}</ref>


====Alandi - Pandharpur Palkhi Schedule====
Along with the procession, [[sevā]] is performed for the poor and needy, like ''[[dāna]]''.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}
The event is said to be one of the world's largest and oldest movement where people gather on one day each year and walk a distance of around 250&nbsp;km. The Pandharpur Wari has been classified by the World Book of Records as "one of the most visited places in a day".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldbookofrecords.uk/records/record_detail/shri-vitthal-rukmini-mandir--pandharpur--india-216|title=World Book of Records|website=worldbookofrecords.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-06-20}}</ref>


{| class ="wikitable sortable collapsible"
== ''Wari'' management ==
! style="width: 5%;" | Day
The Dnyaneshwar ''palkhi'' is managed by Haibatraobua Arphalkar's descendants, the hereditary Chopdars, and the Alandi Devasthan Trust.<ref name="OlsenTrono2018">{{cite book |last=Shinde |first=Kiran A |title=Religious Pilgrimage Routes and Trails: Sustainable Development and Management |date=30 May 2018 |publisher=CABI |isbn=978-1-78639-027-1 |editor-last=Olsen |editor-first=Daniel H |pages=150–165 |chapter=Chapter 13, Palkhi: A moving sacred town |editor-last2=Trono |editor-first2=Anna |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YtlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA150}}</ref>
! style="width: 15%;" | Tithi
! style="width: 15%;" | Starting Location
! style="width: 15%;" | First Break
! style="width: 15%;" | Lunch Break
! style="width: 15%;" class="unsortable" | Post lunch Break
! style="width: 15%;" class="unsortable" | Night Stay
|-
| 1||Jeshtha Vadya 7||-- ||-- || -- || Start from Alandi | Alandi ||
|-
| 2||Jeshtha Vadya 7||[[Alandi]] || 1 Thorlya Paduka Aarti, 2 [[Bhosari]] Phata || Phule nagar || Sangamwadi || Palkhi Vithoba Mandir, [[Pune]]
|-
| 3||Jeshtha Vadya 8||-- ||-- || -- || -- || Palkhi Vithoba Mandir, Pune
|-
| 4||Jeshtha Vadya 9||[[Pune]] ||Shindechatri Aarti || [[Hadapsar]]|| 1. Uruli Devachi 2. Vadki Nala 3. Zendewadi || [[Saswad]]
|-
| 5||Jeshtha Vadya 10||-- ||-- || -- || -- || [[Saswad]]
|-
| 6||Jeshtha Vadya 11||[[Saswad]] ||Borawake Mala ||Yamai Shivri || Sakurde || [[Jejuri]]
|-
| 7||Jeshtha Vadya 12||[[Jejuri]] ||1. Doudaj Shiv 2. Doundaj || Valhe || -- || Valhe
|-
| 8||Jeshtha Vadya 13||Valhe ||Pimprekhurd Vihir || Neera || Neera Snan||[[Lonand]]
|-
| 9||Aashadh Shuddha 1||-- ||-- ||-- ||-- ||[[Lonand]]
|-
| 10||Aashadh Shuddha 2||-- ||-- ||[[Lonand]]||Chandobach Limb Near [[Lonand]]||Taradgaon
|-
| 11||Aashadh Shuddha 3||Taradgaon ||1. Datta Mandir, Kalaj 2. Surawadi ||Nimbhoreodha ||Vadjal ||[[Phaltan]]
|-
| 12||Aashadh Shuddha 4||[[Phaltan]] ||Vidani ||Pimprad ||Nimlak phata ||Barad
|-
| 13||Aashadh Shuddha 5||Barad ||Sadhubuvacha Odha ||Dharmapuri Patbandhare Bangla Canol ||Shingnapur Phata – Panaskar wadi ||Natepute
|-
| 14||Aashadh Shuddha 6||Natepute ||-- ||Mandavi Odha ||1. Sadashivnagar 2.Yeliv ||[[Malshiras]]
|-
| 15||Aashadh Shuddha 7||Malsiras ||Khudus phata ||Vinjori Dnyaneshwar nagar ||Dhavbavi mount ||Velapur
|-
| 16||Aashadh Shuddha 8||[[Velapur]] ||Dhakurbuva Samadhi ||Tondale Bondale ||Sant Sopandeo Bhet ||Bhandishegaon
|-
| 17||Aashadh Shuddha 9||-- ||-- || Bhandishegaon ||Bajiravachi Vihir ||Wakhari
|-roof
| 18||Aashadh Shuddha 10||Wakhari ||-- ||Pandharpur ||-- ||[[Pandharpur]]
|-
|}


== Wari Management ==
The ''wari''{{'s}} schedule is published ahead of time and is strictly followed. It is detailed and minute details are made available, including starting location and the location of breaks, including lunch, rest and night stays. Every morning at early dawn, after worshiping the Saint's ‘Paadukaa/Paduka’(sacred footwear), the ''palkhi'' leaves at 6am for the next stretch of the route. A ''tutari'' (wind instrument) is blown thrice to alert all Warkaris. At the first signal, all warkaris get ready to leave. At the second signal, the Dindis stand in line and start walking at the third signal. After 4 to 5&nbsp;km, they take a quick break for breakfast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parikramaholidays.com/pdf/The-Pandharpur-Wari.pdf|title=Wari|website=Parikramaholidays.com|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064739/http://www.parikramaholidays.com/pdf/The-Pandharpur-Wari.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:DnyaneshwarMaharajPalkhiFestival2ndCircularRingan.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi 2nd Circular ringan. Near, Khudus Phata, Malshiras.]]
[[File:Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi 3rd Circular ringan program .jpg|thumb|235x235px|Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi 3rd Circular ringan. Near, Thakur buva samadhi, Velapur.]]
[[File:Pilgrims 1 (2731600954).jpg|thumb|right|Pilgrims bathing in the Chandrabhaga river at Pandharpur]]
The Dnyaneshwar Palkhi is managed by the descendants of Haibatraobua Arphalkar (who started the palkhi in Modern times), the hereditary Chopdars, and Alandi Devasthan trust. The whole procession is divided into sub-groups called Dindi. Most dindis are registered with the Palkhi organizers.<ref name="OlsenTrono2018">{{cite book|author1=Daniel H Olsen (Editor)|author2=Anna Trono (Editor)|author3=Kiran A Shinde (Author)|title=Religious Pilgrimage Routes and Trails: Sustainable Development and Management|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YtlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA150|date=30 May 2018|publisher=CABI|isbn=978-1-78639-027-1|pages=150–165|chapter=Chapter 13, Palkhi: A moving sacred town}}</ref> There are more than 200 Dindi on each route. Each dindi has between 100 and 500 members. The palkhi is at the centre of the Wari procession which means usually around half the number of Dindis are ahead of the palkhi while the other half follow behind. All registered Dindis are assigned their number and position in the procession and the sequence is strictly followed. The assigned numbers are mentioned ahead of each dindi. There are many unregistered dindis of devotees also who walk well ahead or behind the official Wari procession.
[[File:Tukaram Maharaj palkhi (palanquin) Rath.jpg|thumb|left|Tukaram Maharaj palkhi (palanquin) Rath]]
The timetable of Wari route is published well in advance and is strictly followed. It is well defined and minute details are made available, including starting location and the location of breaks, including lunch, rest and night stays. Every morning at early dawn, after worshiping the Saint's footwear, the palkhi sets out at 6am for the next stretch of the route. A Tutari (wind instrument) is blown thrice to alert all Warkaris. At the first signal, all Warkaris get ready to leave. At the second signal, the dindis stand in the queue as per designated sequence and at the third signal, they starts walking. After 4 to 5&nbsp;km, they take a quick break for breakfast. They also take break for lunch as per the given schedule.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parikramaholidays.com/pdf/The-Pandharpur-Wari.pdf|title=Wari|website=Parikramaholidays.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>


Every dindi has one truck or a similar vehicle where the luggage and food is kept. This is used at the night stay location every day. The Warkaris only carry Tal (instruments), Abhang book (book for chanting praises of the lord) and emergency materials during the procession. Walk management ensures that the tents are set up and the food is prepared before the respective dindi arrives at the location. The dindis also decide the sequence in which the Abhang has to be sung. Most of the dindi members know all the abhang praises by heart, but the newcomers carry a small book while walking. At any point of time, only one Abhang is sung by all. A varkari who adorns the garland of Tulsi is called as Malkari (''mal'' or ''mala'' means garland in Marathi and Hindi). The person who carries Veen in the entire journey is called the Veenekari. These persons have a special status in the dindi and whole management is driven by them. Any dispute during travel between the dindis is resolved by them at the night's stay location.
==Economic impact==
An estimated one million pilgrims, either varkaris traveling with the ''palkhi'' or independent travelers, travel to Pandharpur each year, who require accommodation provided by the [[Matha|''mathas'']] and temporary lodging houses.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Baad|first1=D|title=IMPORTANTANCE OF WARI (YATRA) IN POINT OF ECONOMIC VIEW|date=2016|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=9781329943117|page=40|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FCxmDAAAQBAJ&q=urus+jatra+maharashtra+village&pg=PA51}}</ref>


From last few years, the addition of doctors to the procession have improved the medical facilities in the Wari. The doctors do take care of the members who suffer injury or become weak during travel due to extensive walking. A few professional doctors close the city participate by devoting their 21 days to the wari and take care of the dindi people every year.
==Public health measures==
Because the ''wari'' brings many people on the way to Pandharpur through many localities, public health measures have been implemented since the early [[British raj|British colonial]] period. These included compulsory vaccinations for diseases, such as [[cholera]] and [[Plague (disease)|plague]], segregation of the infected, and restrictions on mobility.<ref name="Pandey2013">{{cite book |last=Das |first=Dilip |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9uoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PR3 |title=Subalternity and Difference: Investigations from the North and the South |date=March 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-70162-7 |editor-last=Pandey |editor-first=Gyanendra |pages=27–28}}</ref> According to Manjiri Kamat, the colonial administrators had other motivations, such as generating revenue by collecting pilgrim tax, or maintaining law and order for implementing public health measures.<ref>Kamat, M., 2001. The Palkhi as plague carrier’: The Pandharpur fair and the sanitary fixation of the colonial state; British India, 1908–1916. Health, medicine and empire: Perspectives on colonial India, pp.299-316.</ref> The colonial government's public health measures in the early part of the 20th century included attaching medical staff to different ''palkhis'', removing infected persons, modifying wells for drinking water, digging trenches, providing bins for waste collection, and employing sanitation staff.<ref name="PatiHarrison2018">{{cite book|author1=Biswamoy Pati|author2=Mark Harrison|title=Society, Medicine and Politics in Colonial India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uOFLDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT14|date=13 February 2018|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-351-26218-7|page=1279}}</ref> The requirement to be vaccinated against cholera and [[typhoid]] in order to join a dindi has continued in the present times.<ref>Koiso, C., Social Implications of Two Hindu Pilgrimages in Maharashtra. In Regional Routes, Regional Roots? Cross-Border. Patterns of Human Mobility in Eurasia (pp. 99-109). Hokkaido Slavic-Eurasian Research Center.[http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/rp/publications/no14/14-09_Koiso.pdf]</ref>


The stay arrangements of each dindi are well-defined and planned at every location. Most of the dindis make stay arrangements in the temples available in the village or in the tents.
In 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra|COVID-19]] pandemic, the wari was reduced with fifty varkaris joining the march to Pandharpur. The ''Paduka'' of the saints were either driven to or flown to Pandharpur for Shayani Ekadashi on July 1, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bengrut |first1=Dhiraj |title=Urban warkaris redraw wari plans due to Covid-19 pandemic, go online |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/urban-warkaris-redraw-wari-plans-due-to-covid-19-pandemic-go-online/story-bekElxRRiP92ZzNDod69hL.html |access-date=8 September 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |issue=June 18, 2020 |date=2020}}</ref>


==Economic impact==
== Dindi ==
The Ashadhi Wari has tremendous economic impact on the town of Pandharpur. This is the period when demand for equipment and items associated with worship of Lord Vitthal is very high. An estimated one million pilgrims, either varkaris traveling with the palkhi or independent travelers, travel to Pandharpur each year, who also need accommodation that is provided by the permanent Mathas and temporary lodging houses. The period also sees demand for temporary restaurants and groceries, such as milk and rice because a number of devotees cook their own food.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Baad|first1=D|title=IMPORTANTANCE OF WARI (YATRA) IN POINT OF ECONOMIC VIEW|date=2016|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=9781329943117|page=40|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FCxmDAAAQBAJ&q=urus+jatra+maharashtra+village&pg=PA51}}</ref>
[[File:Ai dindi warkari group photo.jpg|thumb|Participants of Dindi walking with devotion during the Pune to Saswad stretch of the Vari]]
'''Dindi''' is a devotional and cultural initiative that blends tradition with technology to enhance participation in the annual Pandharpur Vari. Launched with the intention of offering a safer, more inclusive, and well-organized experience for Varkaris, Dindi aims to preserve the spiritual essence of the Vari while making it easier for people from diverse backgrounds to join the journey. It emphasizes disciplined coordination, safety practices, and community-driven values while supporting the traditional practices followed during the Vari.


==Public health issues==
To encourage wider participation, Dindi provides flexibility for devotees to join the Vari on any day from Pune to Pandharpur. Participants are offered support in transport, accommodation, meals, and guidance throughout the journey. The initiative has been facilitating this structure for over 18 years and continues to grow as a digitally supported Dindi. Registration and more information can be accessed through their official website, [https://aidindi.org/ https://aidindi.org].
Since the vari attracts so many people on the way to Pandharpur going through many localities, public health measures have been implemented since the early [[British raj|British colonial]] period. These included compulsory vaccinations for diseases, such as [[cholera]] and [[Plague (disease)|plague]], segregation of the infected, restrictions on mobility, etc.<ref name="Pandey2013">{{cite book|author1=Gyanendra Pandey (Editor)|author2=Dilip Das (author)|title=Subalternity and Difference: Investigations from the North and the South|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9uoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PR3|date=March 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-70162-7|pages=27–28}}</ref> According to Manjiri Kamat, the colonial administrators had other motivations  such as generating revenue by collecting pilgrim tax, or maintaining law and order for implementing public health measures.<ref>Kamat, M., 2001. The Palkhi as plague carrier’: The Pandharpur fair and the sanitary fixation of the colonial state; British India, 1908–1916. Health, medicine and empire: Perspectives on colonial India, pp.299-316.</ref> The colonial government's public health measures in the early part of the 20th century included attaching medical staff to different palkhis, removing infected persons, modifying wells for drinking water, digging trenches, providing bins for waste collection, employing sanitary staff etc.<ref name="PatiHarrison2018">{{cite book|author1=Biswamoy Pati|author2=Mark Harrison|title=Society, Medicine and Politics in Colonial India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uOFLDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT14|date=13 February 2018|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-351-26218-7|page=1279}}</ref>
The requirement to be vaccinated against cholera and [[typhoid]] in order to join a dindi has continued in the present times.<ref>Koiso, C., Social Implications of Two Hindu Pilgrimages in Maharashtra. In Regional Routes, Regional Roots? Cross-Border. Patterns of Human Mobility in Eurasia (pp. 99-109). Hokkaido Slavic-Eurasian Reserarch Center.[http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/rp/publications/no14/14-09_Koiso.pdf]</ref>


In 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra|Covid-19]] pandemic, the vari was severely curtailed with only fifty varkaris joining the march to Pandharpur. The sandals (paduka) of the saints were either driven to or flown to Pandharpur for ashadhi ekadashi on July 1, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bengrut |first1=Dhiraj |title=Urban warkaris redraw wari plans due to Covid-19 pandemic, go online |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/urban-warkaris-redraw-wari-plans-due-to-covid-19-pandemic-go-online/story-bekElxRRiP92ZzNDod69hL.html |access-date=8 September 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |issue=June 18, 2020 |publisher=HT Media Limited |date=2020}}</ref>
==Goa Dindi festival==
The '''Dindi festival''' is an annual festival held in [[Margao]], [[Goa]]'s Vitthal Rakhumai temple, and the Damodar Temple in the month of November.<ref>Pran Nath Chopra Encyclopaedia of India: Goa, Daman & Diu 1992– Page 102 "A big festival attended by thousands of people known as 'Dindi' is held every year. A procession is taken out from this temple to Vitthal "</ref><ref>Robert Bradnock, Roma Bradnock ''Footprint Goa Handbook: The Travel Guide'' 1903471222 - 2002 -Page 173 The Damodar Temple, 2 km from Kadamba bus terminaL hosts the winter Dindi festivaL when there is a palanquin procession along with singing of devotional hynms.</ref><ref name="indianexpress">{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/palkhi-dindi-walk-facebook-save-water-crisis-swapnil-more-2884329/|publisher=The Indian Express|title=Palkhi procession: Virtual dindi walks for a noble cause this year — Save Water Campaign in Pune &#124; The Indian Express|date=30 June 2016 |access-date=2016-11-27}}</ref><ref name="heraldgoa">{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Dindi-euphoria-stems-demonetisation-anxiety/108381.html|publisher=heraldgoa.in|title=Herald: Dindi euphoria stems demonetisation anxiety|access-date=2016-11-27|archive-date=27 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127215426/http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Dindi-euphoria-stems-demonetisation-anxiety/108381.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Dindi festival is dedicated to [[Hindu deities|Hindu deity]] [[Vithoba]], the festival dates back to 1909. It is one of the oldest festivals in [[Salcete]](Margao) taluka.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/dindi-festival-lights-up-margao-2/|title=Dindi festival lights up Margao|website=www.navhindtimes.in|date=22 November 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-25}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
; Related to Pandharpur Wari
* [[:mr:आषाढी वारी (पंढरपूर)|आषाढी वारी (पंढरपूर)]] on Marathi Bharatpedia
* [[Vithoba]]
* [[:hi:आषाढी वारी (पंढरपूर)]] on Hindi Bharatpedia
*[[:mr:आषाढी वारी (पंढरपूर)|आषाढी वारी (पंढरपूर)]] on Marathi Wikipedia
*[[Vithoba Temple, Pandharpur]]
*[[Varkari]]
* [[Sant Dnyaneshwar]]
* [[Sant Tukaram]]
* [[Bhakti movement]]
* [[Bhakti movement]]
* [[Dindi dance]]
* [[Sant Mat]]
* [[Sant Mat]]
; Other Hindu pilgrimage related topics
* [[Yatra#Famous yatras|Famous Hindu yatras]]
* [[Yatra#Famous yatras|Famous Hindu yatras]]
* [[Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]
* [[Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]
Line 207: Line 179:
* [[Ratha Yatra]]
* [[Ratha Yatra]]
* [[Tirtha (Hinduism)|Tirtha]]
* [[Tirtha (Hinduism)|Tirtha]]
* [[Tirtha and Kshetra]]
* [[Vitthal Temple, Pandharpur]] (section Dindi Yatra)


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Warkari]]
==External links==
{{commonscat|Pandharpur Wari}}
 
 
 
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimages]]
[[Category:Festivals in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Pilgrimage in India]]
[[Category:Pilgrimage in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Solapur district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Solapur district]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimages]]
[[Category:Warkari]]
[[Category:Maharashtra]]

Latest revision as of 16:19, 5 March 2026


Pandharpur Vari
A procession of Palkhi to Pandharpur
Also calledPalkhi
Observed byHindu
TypeSpiritual
2025 date18 June - 6 July
2026 date19 June - 7 July
FrequencyAnnual
The Vari is undertaken in honour of the god Vithoba.

Pandharpur Vari, or Vari is a yatra to Pandharpur, Maharashtra, to honor Vithoba. It involves carrying the paduka of a saint in a palkhi, most notably of Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram, from their respective shrines to Pandharpur. Many pilgrims join this procession on foot. Varkari is a Marathi term which means "one who performs the Vari". The tradition is more than 700 to 800 years old.[1][2][3]

Marches happen on foot from various locations in Maharashtra to Vithoba Temple.[4] This yatra takes 21 days. Along the way, many other palkis join the two most revered palkhis. Starting from their towns located in the Pune district of Maharashtra: Sant Dnyaneshwar's palkhi leaves from Alandi, while Tukaram's begins at Dehu. The Vari culminates at the Vithoba Temple on the holy occasion of Shayani Ekadashi (Ashadi Ekadashi).[5] Devotees from across Maharashtra and nearby areas leave for Pandharpur, wearing holy basil beads and singing the glories of Vithoba and songs like "Dñyanbā Tukārām", commemorating the saints.[6] When they reach Pandharpur on Shayani Ekadashi, the devotees bathe in the sacred Bhima River before visiting the temple.

History[edit | edit source]

Beginnings[edit | edit source]

Various views exist on the origins of the wari (Marathi: पंढरपूरची वारी or वारी). According to one theory, Vitthalpant, the father of the Varkari saint Dnyaneshwar, began the wari to visit Pandharpur in the Hindu months of Ashadha and Kartik. The tradition of performing a Vari is generally regarded to have existed for more than 800 years.[7][8]

Another theory credits Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram to have started the pilgrimage. They used to take a journey to Pandharpur by foot for 15 days, reaching Pandharpur's Vithoba Temple on Shayani Ekadashi.[9][10] The tradition of carrying the paduka of the saints was started by the Tukaram's youngest son, Narayan Maharaj, in 1685.

British era[edit | edit source]

Changes were brought to the pilgrimage in the 1820s by Tukaram's descendants and a devotee of Dnyaneshwar named Haibatravbaba Arphalkar, who was a courtier of the Scindias.[11] Haibatravbaba is credited with the organization of the wari in use today. This involved carrying the paduka in a palkhi, having horses involved in the procession, and organizing the devotees or varkaris in Dindis (Dindi stands for a specific group of varkaris).[12]

Palkhi route[edit | edit source]

Location of Pandharpur and the starting place of important palkhis in Maharashtra
Day Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi
1 Dehu
2 Akurdi Alandi
3 Nana Peth Bhavani Peth
4 Hadapsar Pune
5 Loni Kalbhor Saswad
6 Yavat Saswad
7 Varvand Jejuri
8 Baramati Walhe
9 Indapur Lonand
10 Akluj Taradgaon
11 Malshiras Phaltan
12 Natepute Barad
13 Velapur Natepute
14 Pirachi Kuroli Malshiras
15 Bhandishegaon Velapur
16 Wakhari Bhandishegaon
17 Wakhari
18 Pandharpur
19 Vithoba Temple

Wari in present times[edit | edit source]

Pandharpur Wari in Hinduism
Tukaram Maharaj palakhi (palanquin)
Tukaram Maharaj palkhi (palanquin) Rath
Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi 2nd Circular ringan. Near, Khudus Phata, Malshiras.
Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi 3rd Circular ringan. Near, Thakur buva samadhi, Velapur.
Pilgrims bathing in the Chandrabhaga river at Pandharpur
During the Palkhi the Warkaris play Phugadi games in the temple passage.

The Warkaris—whose patron deity is Vithoba—undertake the wari to Pandharpur, reaching there on a day before Shayani Ekadashi, the eleventh lunar day (Ekadashi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of Ashadha (June–July). Pilgrims carry palanquins of the saints from the places of their respective samadhi.[13][14][15]

Dindi[edit | edit source]

The concept of Dindi (Marathi: दिंडी procession) or troupes of warkari devotees was introduced by Haibatravbaba in the early 1800s.[16] A diṇḍī is a group of Hindu devotees of one caste or village who are part of a larger palkhi going to a holy site on pilgrimage. Some religious institutions and temples also have their own Dindi. Accommodation, meals, and other facilities for warkaris are provided through their respective Dindi. The Managing members of a Dindi usually travel ahead to make arrangements for food and shelter at their next stop. All registered Dindis are numbered and assigned their place in the procession. Some walk in front of the palkhi, and others behind it. During their march, flag and banner-carrying members are at the front of the troupe, and the drummer is at the center of the Dindi.[17]

Along with the procession, sevā is performed for the poor and needy, like dāna.[citation needed] The event is said to be one of the world's largest and oldest movement where people gather on one day each year and walk a distance of around 250 km. The Pandharpur Wari has been classified by the World Book of Records as "one of the most visited places in a day".[18]

Wari management[edit | edit source]

The Dnyaneshwar palkhi is managed by Haibatraobua Arphalkar's descendants, the hereditary Chopdars, and the Alandi Devasthan Trust.[19]

The wari's schedule is published ahead of time and is strictly followed. It is detailed and minute details are made available, including starting location and the location of breaks, including lunch, rest and night stays. Every morning at early dawn, after worshiping the Saint's ‘Paadukaa/Paduka’(sacred footwear), the palkhi leaves at 6am for the next stretch of the route. A tutari (wind instrument) is blown thrice to alert all Warkaris. At the first signal, all warkaris get ready to leave. At the second signal, the Dindis stand in line and start walking at the third signal. After 4 to 5 km, they take a quick break for breakfast.[20]

Economic impact[edit | edit source]

An estimated one million pilgrims, either varkaris traveling with the palkhi or independent travelers, travel to Pandharpur each year, who require accommodation provided by the mathas and temporary lodging houses.[21]

Public health measures[edit | edit source]

Because the wari brings many people on the way to Pandharpur through many localities, public health measures have been implemented since the early British colonial period. These included compulsory vaccinations for diseases, such as cholera and plague, segregation of the infected, and restrictions on mobility.[22] According to Manjiri Kamat, the colonial administrators had other motivations, such as generating revenue by collecting pilgrim tax, or maintaining law and order for implementing public health measures.[23] The colonial government's public health measures in the early part of the 20th century included attaching medical staff to different palkhis, removing infected persons, modifying wells for drinking water, digging trenches, providing bins for waste collection, and employing sanitation staff.[24] The requirement to be vaccinated against cholera and typhoid in order to join a dindi has continued in the present times.[25]

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the wari was reduced with fifty varkaris joining the march to Pandharpur. The Paduka of the saints were either driven to or flown to Pandharpur for Shayani Ekadashi on July 1, 2020.[26]

Dindi[edit | edit source]

Participants of Dindi walking with devotion during the Pune to Saswad stretch of the Vari

Dindi is a devotional and cultural initiative that blends tradition with technology to enhance participation in the annual Pandharpur Vari. Launched with the intention of offering a safer, more inclusive, and well-organized experience for Varkaris, Dindi aims to preserve the spiritual essence of the Vari while making it easier for people from diverse backgrounds to join the journey. It emphasizes disciplined coordination, safety practices, and community-driven values while supporting the traditional practices followed during the Vari.

To encourage wider participation, Dindi provides flexibility for devotees to join the Vari on any day from Pune to Pandharpur. Participants are offered support in transport, accommodation, meals, and guidance throughout the journey. The initiative has been facilitating this structure for over 18 years and continues to grow as a digitally supported Dindi. Registration and more information can be accessed through their official website, https://aidindi.org.

Goa Dindi festival[edit | edit source]

The Dindi festival is an annual festival held in Margao, Goa's Vitthal Rakhumai temple, and the Damodar Temple in the month of November.[27][28][29][30] The Dindi festival is dedicated to Hindu deity Vithoba, the festival dates back to 1909. It is one of the oldest festivals in Salcete(Margao) taluka.[31]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Pandharpur Wari 2015, Schedule, Route and Pandharpur Yatra Videos". Punebuzz.com. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 27 July 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Warkari wave sweeps Pune city, Pimpri-Chinchwad". Indianexpress.com. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "Pandharpur Palkhi Sohala 2015". Tourismpune.org. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  4. ↑ Nitnaware, Himanshu (3 June 2019). "This year's wari moves towards greener pastures; plantation drive to be undertaken on widened Mangalwedha-Pandharpur stretch". Pune Mirror. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  5. ↑ "Ashadi Ekadashi, Pandharpur". Incredibleindia.org. Archived from the original on 30 July 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Elaborate arrangements for Sant Tukaram Maharaj palkhi procession". Times of India. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "Pandharpur Wari" (PDF). Parikramaholidays. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "PANDHARPUR WARI:PILGRIMAGE ON FOOT". All India Radio. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Palkhi Festival". Maharashtrattourism.net. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  10. ↑ Gethe, Subhash. "Varkari Movement". Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "The wari tradition". Wari Santanchi. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Mokashi, Digambar Balkrishna (1987). Palkhi: An Indian Pilgrimage. Translated by Engblom, Phillip C. Albany: State University of New York Press. p. 18. ISBN 0-88706-461-2.
  13. ↑ "Pandarpur Yatra - Pandharpur Ashadhi Ekadasi Wari Pilgrimage, Palkhi Festival - Palki Festival Maharashtra, Palkhi Festival Pandharpur India". www.newsonair.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "The Pandharpur Wari" (PDF). Parikramaholidays.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2017. The Wari begins on the 8th/9th lunar day of the waning moon in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha and reaches a day before Ashadhi Ekadashi at Pandharpur. People from various castes and socio-economic backgrounds participate in the Wari, with the common goal to reach Pandharpur and worship the deity. Along the Way the procession passes cities, towns and villages. The local residents of place along the route come out to greet, feed and house the varkari pilgrims.
  15. ↑ Jayant K. Lele (1 January 1989). Language and Society: Steps Towards an Integrated Theory. BRILL. p. 26. ISBN 90-04-08789-3.
  16. ↑ Mokashi, Digambar Balkrishna (1987). Palkhi: An Indian Pilgrimage. Translated by Engblom, Phillip C. Albany: State University of New York Press. p. 18. ISBN 0-88706-461-2.
  17. ↑ Jones, J (2016). "Pilgrimage and Audience on the Maharashtrian Vārī". Yale Journal of Music & Religion. 2 (2): 115–132. doi:10.17132/2377-231X.1063.
  18. ↑ "World Book of Records". worldbookofrecords.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  19. ↑ Shinde, Kiran A (30 May 2018). "Chapter 13, Palkhi: A moving sacred town". In Olsen, Daniel H; Trono, Anna (eds.). Religious Pilgrimage Routes and Trails: Sustainable Development and Management. CABI. pp. 150–165. ISBN 978-1-78639-027-1.
  20. ↑ "Wari" (PDF). Parikramaholidays.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  21. ↑ Baad, D (2016). IMPORTANTANCE OF WARI (YATRA) IN POINT OF ECONOMIC VIEW. Lulu.com. p. 40. ISBN 9781329943117.
  22. ↑ Das, Dilip (March 2013). Pandey, Gyanendra (ed.). Subalternity and Difference: Investigations from the North and the South. Routledge. pp. 27–28. ISBN 978-1-136-70162-7.
  23. ↑ Kamat, M., 2001. The Palkhi as plague carrier’: The Pandharpur fair and the sanitary fixation of the colonial state; British India, 1908–1916. Health, medicine and empire: Perspectives on colonial India, pp.299-316.
  24. ↑ Biswamoy Pati; Mark Harrison (13 February 2018). Society, Medicine and Politics in Colonial India. Taylor & Francis. p. 1279. ISBN 978-1-351-26218-7.
  25. ↑ Koiso, C., Social Implications of Two Hindu Pilgrimages in Maharashtra. In Regional Routes, Regional Roots? Cross-Border. Patterns of Human Mobility in Eurasia (pp. 99-109). Hokkaido Slavic-Eurasian Research Center.[1]
  26. ↑ Bengrut, Dhiraj (2020). "Urban warkaris redraw wari plans due to Covid-19 pandemic, go online". Hindustan Times. No. June 18, 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  27. ↑ Pran Nath Chopra Encyclopaedia of India: Goa, Daman & Diu 1992– Page 102 "A big festival attended by thousands of people known as 'Dindi' is held every year. A procession is taken out from this temple to Vitthal "
  28. ↑ Robert Bradnock, Roma Bradnock Footprint Goa Handbook: The Travel Guide 1903471222 - 2002 -Page 173 The Damodar Temple, 2 km from Kadamba bus terminaL hosts the winter Dindi festivaL when there is a palanquin procession along with singing of devotional hynms.
  29. ↑ "Palkhi procession: Virtual dindi walks for a noble cause this year — Save Water Campaign in Pune | The Indian Express". The Indian Express. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  30. ↑ "Herald: Dindi euphoria stems demonetisation anxiety". heraldgoa.in. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  31. ↑ "Dindi festival lights up Margao". www.navhindtimes.in. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.

External links[edit | edit source]

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