Pune welcomes warkaris with devotion amid light showers

Time of India

20-06-2025

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Pune: Intermittent rain greeted thousands who thronged city streets on Friday to welcome palkhi processions of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj.
The Tukaram Maharaj palkhi took an overnight halt in Akurdi on Thursday before resuming its journey at 6am on Friday, while the Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi began its journey to Pandharpur at 7pm from Gandhi Wada in Alandi, where it stayed overnight as per custom.
Chants of "Dnyanoba Tukaram" and "Vitthal Vitthal" reverberated in the air with the sound of cymbals, mridang, and other traditional instruments played by members of dindis (groups of warkaris). Devotees held aloft idols of Lord Vitthal and Rukmini and tulsi plants.
Many Pune residents stood on roadsides to greet the processions and offer their prayers. Most onlookers were in traditional attire, clicking selfies with warkaris.
Many donned the customary 'tilak' on their foreheads.
"This day is special for us. I took a leave to celebrate it with my family. This we have been doing for the last two decades," said Sachil Patil, a software professional from Dighi. Shivajinagar resident Santosh Shirole said, "It is nothing less than a two-day festival for the city residents."
The mood on FC Road was spiritual, as various mandals painted rangolis on the stretch and at main junctions to honour the centuries-old tradition.
Youngsters, including college and school students, attended to dance with young warkaris to the tune of abhangs.
"I have taken part in the procession for three years. I walk at least 5km to capture the devotional mood," said Sanket Deshpande, an amateur photographer. "Being with the warkaris gives you a vibe that one cannot explain in words. Their love for Lord Vitthal is unmatched," said postgraduate student Tanvi Kulkarni.
For auto driver Santosh Landge (40), palkhi is more than faith — it's a family legacy. "My great-grandfather did this walk. My father, too. Every year, I take 20 days off to join. This is our tradition; it runs in the blood," he said.
Welcoming the warkaris
Mandals, housing societies, and individuals distributed packets of food, fruits, water and biscuits to devotees along the routes. "Most working professionals cannot spend two weeks walking to Pandharpur.
But we can support them. Distribution of food, water, and medicine is to tell the devotees we care," said Sudhakar Deshpande, a retired professor from Vishrantwadi.
Citizens opened up not only their hearts but also their homes. Across Shivajinagar, Camp, and Peth areas, furniture was rearranged, extra mattresses pulled out, and large pots set to boil to host warkaris. "Our members are hosting around 350 warkaris in their homes near Bhopla Chowk.
Each small group will be taken care of by city-based families," said Kailash Bhoj, treasurer of the Kamathipura Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, adding, "They'll have tea, clean water, bedding, and a clean place to rest.
" On Saturday morning, mandal members will prepare 150kg of sabudana khichadi, cooked to suit fasting customs.
Ashok Patil, a retired schoolteacher, was busy arranging for dinner for a large group of warkaris staying the night in Kasba Peth.
"Palkhi is more than a religious ritual — it is unique to the culture of Pune. It is beautiful how people from all walks of life come together for it. It teaches us service, humility, and most importantly, the importance of community."
City mandals also stepped up in a big way. "We booked two halls in Camp to house around 750 warkaris," said Dilip Giramkar, president of Hind Tarun Mandal. "We'll have stations for phone charging, shaving, medical aid and even footwear and clothes repair."
Rickshaw drivers chimed in, too. "Drivers not only from our association but from across the city pooled money to feed 500 warkaris near MG Road," said Shafique Patel, president of the Azad Rickshaw Chalak Sanghatana. "Some donated rice, dal, flour, and oil, others gave their time to cook meals. We may not have much, but this is our way of seva," he said.
At Sadhu Vaswani Mission, a longstanding tradition continues. "Warkaris used to visit Dada Vaswani during palkhi and sing abhangs with him," recalled Naresh Singhani from the mission.
"They would hand him their veena in reverence. That tradition lives on; this year, they will be coming for lunch and kirtan, as they always do near Dada's samadhi," he said.
Authorities make arrangements
The Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations (PMC and PCMC) set up pandals along Pune-Alandi and Pune-Mumbai old highways. Special health kiosks provided basic medicines and health checkups for devotees.
For lunch, the Tukaram Maharaj palkhi took a halt at Dapodi, while the Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi halted at Phulenagar around 2pm. As per tradition, the Tukaram Maharaj palkhi reached Pune earlier and performed an aarti at Tukaram Maharaj Paduka Chowk on FC Road around 7pm. Chandrakant Patil, minister of higher and technical education, performed the ritual.
The Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi reached Dnyaneshwar Paduka Chowk on FC Road around 8pm.
After performing the aarti at the chowk's temple, it went ahead.
Vilas Kate, an activist who has been in the procession for two decades, said, "This year, the procession began around 7am from Alandi, one hour late, mainly due to early morning drizzles. So, it was all delayed by an hour."
During the halt in Pune, the Tukaram Maharaj palkhi will be stationed at Nivdunga Vitthal temple and the Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi will rest at Vithoba temple, both in the Peths.
Rest, relief for devotees
After trudging through flooded streets and relentless rain in Alandi, thousands of warkaris found dryer roads and a city eager to serve in Pune.
"Every year we account for the rain during the pilgrimage in the monsoon, but it was too much on Thursday. Thankfully, the weather got better in Pune on Friday," said Gangubai Jagtap (65), resting her tired feet near a food stall in Shivajinagar. "Everywhere we walk, people are offering us food and water, even dry clothes," added her husband, Raviraj.
"When we left Alandi, my legs were sore from walking in water. But Pune welcomed us with warm meals and clean places to rest," said Chandrakant Salunke, a warkari with his family.
Warkaris said their Pune halt is special not just for support, but also for the care it brings. "Every year, I look forward to getting a health check-up done here. I urge other warkaris to do so, too, as back home, we don't get a chance like this," said Chandrakant Ubale (50) as he queued up for a food packet in Shivajinagar.
"We were drenched yesterday, but today, someone handed me hot tea, vada pav, and dry clothes with a topi (cap). Many people distribute necessities to us as a part of their devotion," said Suresh Thorat, who has made this annual journey for the last 30 years.
Crowds swell amid good rainfall
Every year, kharif sowing is a major task for warkaris, many of whom hail from farming families. But this year, good rainfall has taken care of it.
As a result, the crowd in both processions was more than in the last two years, said trustees of the Tukaram Maharaj Devasthan, Dehu. Sanjay More, one of the long-time trustees of the temple, told TOI, "Last year, we had 330 dindis. This year, it reached 400. Some 1,500-4,000 warkaris walk in each dindi.
This year's turnout is major."
Most warkaris come from Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, which recorded the highest sowing as per the state agriculture department this season, compared to last year.
"Every year, even if we do not do the sowing, we participate in the palkhi. It is a tradition of our family. I am the fourth generation to continue it proudly," said Shantaram Kale from Beed.
Pune: Intermittent rain greeted thousands who thronged city streets on Friday to welcome palkhi processions of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj.
The Tukaram Maharaj palkhi took an overnight halt in Akurdi on Thursday before resuming its journey at 6am on Friday, while the Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi began its journey to Pandharpur at 7pm from Gandhi Wada in Alandi, where it stayed overnight as per custom.
Chants of "Dnyanoba Tukaram" and "Vitthal Vitthal" reverberated in the air with the sound of cymbals, mridang, and other traditional instruments played by members of dindis (groups of warkaris). Devotees held aloft idols of Lord Vitthal and Rukmini and tulsi plants.
Many Pune residents stood on roadsides to greet the processions and offer their prayers. Most onlookers were in traditional attire, clicking selfies with warkaris.
Many donned the customary 'tilak' on their foreheads.
"This day is special for us. I took a leave to celebrate it with my family. This we have been doing for the last two decades," said Sachil Patil, a software professional from Dighi. Shivajinagar resident Santosh Shirole said, "It is nothing less than a two-day festival for the city residents."
The mood on FC Road was spiritual, as various mandals painted rangolis on the stretch and at main junctions to honour the centuries-old tradition.
Youngsters, including college and school students, attended to dance with young warkaris to the tune of abhangs.
"I have taken part in the procession for three years. I walk at least 5km to capture the devotional mood," said Sanket Deshpande, an amateur photographer. "Being with the warkaris gives you a vibe that one cannot explain in words. Their love for Lord Vitthal is unmatched," said postgraduate student Tanvi Kulkarni.
For auto driver Santosh Landge (40), palkhi is more than faith — it's a family legacy. "My great-grandfather did this walk. My father, too. Every year, I take 20 days off to join. This is our tradition; it runs in the blood," he said.
Welcoming the warkaris
Mandals, housing societies, and individuals distributed packets of food, fruits, water and biscuits to devotees along the routes. "Most working professionals cannot spend two weeks walking to Pandharpur.
But we can support them. Distribution of food, water, and medicine is to tell the devotees we care," said Sudhakar Deshpande, a retired professor from Vishrantwadi.
Citizens opened up not only their hearts but also their homes. Across Shivajinagar, Camp, and Peth areas, furniture was rearranged, extra mattresses pulled out, and large pots set to boil to host warkaris. "Our members are hosting around 350 warkaris in their homes near Bhopla Chowk.
Each small group will be taken care of by city-based families," said Kailash Bhoj, treasurer of the Kamathipura Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, adding, "They'll have tea, clean water, bedding, and a clean place to rest.
" On Saturday morning, mandal members will prepare 150kg of sabudana khichadi, cooked to suit fasting customs.
Ashok Patil, a retired schoolteacher, was busy arranging for dinner for a large group of warkaris staying the night in Kasba Peth.
"Palkhi is more than a religious ritual — it is unique to the culture of Pune. It is beautiful how people from all walks of life come together for it. It teaches us service, humility, and most importantly, the importance of community."
City mandals also stepped up in a big way. "We booked two halls in Camp to house around 750 warkaris," said Dilip Giramkar, president of Hind Tarun Mandal. "We'll have stations for phone charging, shaving, medical aid and even footwear and clothes repair."
Rickshaw drivers chimed in, too. "Drivers not only from our association but from across the city pooled money to feed 500 warkaris near MG Road," said Shafique Patel, president of the Azad Rickshaw Chalak Sanghatana. "Some donated rice, dal, flour, and oil, others gave their time to cook meals. We may not have much, but this is our way of seva," he said.
At Sadhu Vaswani Mission, a longstanding tradition continues. "Warkaris used to visit Dada Vaswani during palkhi and sing abhangs with him," recalled Naresh Singhani from the mission.
"They would hand him their veena in reverence. That tradition lives on; this year, they will be coming for lunch and kirtan, as they always do near Dada's samadhi," he said.
Authorities make arrangements
The Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations (PMC and PCMC) set up pandals along Pune-Alandi and Pune-Mumbai old highways. Special health kiosks provided basic medicines and health checkups for devotees.
For lunch, the Tukaram Maharaj palkhi took a halt at Dapodi, while the Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi halted at Phulenagar around 2pm. As per tradition, the Tukaram Maharaj palkhi reached Pune earlier and performed an aarti at Tukaram Maharaj Paduka Chowk on FC Road around 7pm. Chandrakant Patil, minister of higher and technical education, performed the ritual.
The Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi reached Dnyaneshwar Paduka Chowk on FC Road around 8pm.
After performing the aarti at the chowk's temple, it went ahead.
Vilas Kate, an activist who has been in the procession for two decades, said, "This year, the procession began around 7am from Alandi, one hour late, mainly due to early morning drizzles. So, it was all delayed by an hour."
During the halt in Pune, the Tukaram Maharaj palkhi will be stationed at Nivdunga Vitthal temple and the Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi will rest at Vithoba temple, both in the Peths.
Rest, relief for devotees
After trudging through flooded streets and relentless rain in Alandi, thousands of warkaris found dryer roads and a city eager to serve in Pune.
"Every year we account for the rain during the pilgrimage in the monsoon, but it was too much on Thursday. Thankfully, the weather got better in Pune on Friday," said Gangubai Jagtap (65), resting her tired feet near a food stall in Shivajinagar. "Everywhere we walk, people are offering us food and water, even dry clothes," added her husband, Raviraj.
"When we left Alandi, my legs were sore from walking in water. But Pune welcomed us with warm meals and clean places to rest," said Chandrakant Salunke, a warkari with his family.
Warkaris said their Pune halt is special not just for support, but also for the care it brings. "Every year, I look forward to getting a health check-up done here. I urge other warkaris to do so, too, as back home, we don't get a chance like this," said Chandrakant Ubale (50) as he queued up for a food packet in Shivajinagar.
"We were drenched yesterday, but today, someone handed me hot tea, vada pav, and dry clothes with a topi (cap). Many people distribute necessities to us as a part of their devotion," said Suresh Thorat, who has made this annual journey for the last 30 years.
Crowds swell amid good rainfall
Every year, kharif sowing is a major task for warkaris, many of whom hail from farming families. But this year, good rainfall has taken care of it.
As a result, the crowd in both processions was more than in the last two years, said trustees of the Tukaram Maharaj Devasthan, Dehu. Sanjay More, one of the long-time trustees of the temple, told TOI, "Last year, we had 330 dindis. This year, it reached 400. Some 1,500-4,000 warkaris walk in each dindi.
This year's turnout is major."
Most warkaris come from Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, which recorded the highest sowing as per the state agriculture department this season, compared to last year. "Every year, even if we do not do the sowing, we participate in the palkhi. It is a tradition of our family. I am the fourth generation to continue it proudly," said Shantaram Kale from Beed.