Lord Vithoba's Pandharpur Wari is a custom from the 17th century. The pilgrims begin this journey on foot and with the Palkhi of Saint Dnyaneshwar in Alandi, a town in the Pune area. To get to Pandharpur, a well-known pilgrimage destination on the banks of the Candrabhaga River in Maharashtra, they travel through the cities of Pune, Jejuri, Saswad, Neera, Lonand, Taradgaon, Phaltan, Natepute, Velapur, and Wakhri.
Millions of Warkaris join the main Saint Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar palkhis along the road on this 21-day journey from Alandi to Pandharpur.The Warkaris attend the revered Shree Vitthal-Rukmini temple in Pandharpur as soon as they arrive at the Vithoba Temple on the auspicious occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi. For the warkaris, this yearly event, also known as sohla in the local tongue, is more than just a tirth yatra or a place of pilgrimage.
Flowers are used to decorate everything, including the palkhi, the Rath, the veenas, the tulsi plants carried by the Warkaris, and the pictures of Vitthal and Rukmini. The whole thing is intriguing, pleasant, and spiritual. Simple-clothed warkaris are enthusiastic and full of fervour, always prepared to swing to the beat of the mridangam or swirl during a game of fugdi while holding on to their fellow warkaris' hands.
