Palkhis arrive with waves of warkaris in Pune

PUNE: A tumultuous welcome full of strong spiritual feelings and emotion was accorded to the palkhis and the warkaris on their arrival on Wednesday in the city after a two-year break due to the pandemic.
The enthusiasm and fervour among the warkaris were palpable at Gandhi wada in Alandi from where Sant Dnyaneshwar’s palkhi resumed its journey towards Pune earlier in the morning.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj’s palkhi, which had started from Dehu on Monday had halted overnight in Akurdi on Tuesday, also resumed its journey on Wednesday morning. Both processions merged in Sangamwadi before they entered Pune city around 6pm.
Chants of `Dnyanba, Tukaram’ and `Vitthal Vitthal’ from the members of hundreds of dindi (groups of warkaris) reverberated amid the sounds of taal, mrudung, lejhim and other traditional instruments.
Women held aloft idols of Lord Vitthal and Rukmini, and carried tulsi saplings. Thousands of Puneites lined the roads to greet the palkhis and offer their prayers.
Activists and volunteers distributed packets of food, fruits, and biscuits to the warkaris. Some gave them bottled water. Onlookers were in traditional attire and some clicked selfies with the singing and dancing warkaris.
Both palkhis came to Fergusson College Road after 6pm and when it began to grow dark. Sant Tukaram Maharaj’s palkhi arrived at Sant Tukaram Paduka temple and performed an aarti around 6.30 pm. State BJP president Chandrakant Patil and Kothrud MLA was present.
After one and a half hours, Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s palkhi made its way to the chowk named after the revered figure. As the chopdar (head of the wari) dressed in his traditional red costume and signature red turban made his appearance, onlookers prepared to touch the paduka.
Both palkhis will rest in Pune on Thursday— Sant Tukaram Maharaj palkhi at Nivdunga Vitthal Mandir and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s at Palkhi Vithoba Mandir in the Peth areas.
Sanjay More, a trustee of Jagatguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Temple Trust, said, “The response from the warkaris is overwhelming this year, after a two-year gap. Although sowing is still to commence, they participated in huge numbers. It shows their devotion.”
Prayers for rain
Warkaris expressed concern about poor rainfall and said they will pray for good rains. “Usually, we get rainfall during the palkhi procession. Farmers are desperately waiting to commence sowing. We will pray to Lord Vitthal for good rains and a good harvest,” Ulhas Gande, a warkari from Ahmednagar district, said.
Landless labourer Mayur Pawar, his wife, and two children were with the wari. “We hope it will rain and we will have good crops,” he said.