Preserve Moment...: W a a r i .... The Unexplainable voyage

With butterflies in stomach at 4:00 am we gathered in huge numbers at Alandi on 10th July’15. It was a once in a year opportunity to indulge our self in sacred walk named “Waari”

It sure is a 180 degree contradiction that, In the era of newspapers flooded with news of robbery, murders for mere 500 Rs, abduction and rapes…. More than million individuals gather together with the ultimate goal of seeping joy of devotional walk… helping each other without any materialistic expectations… referring every other soul as “Maauli”…

Waari,

Worlds biggest pilgrimage witnessed by Maharashtra from last 800 years.

The palkhi of Sant Tukaram starts from Dehu, while Sant Dynaneshwar’s palkhi starts from Alandi and the two reach Pandharpur on ekadashi.

Lacs of pilgrims known as "warkaris" take this spiritual walk of about 23 days from Dehu, alandi to Pandharpur.

With the saffron coloured triangular 'paatakas'(flags) in hands and tulsi leaves on their heads the pilgrims presented a perfect picture of the Bhakti tradition of Maharshtra.

The pilgrims follow the tradition of carrying the paduka (sandals) of the sants(sant Dhnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram) in a palkhi.

During the Wari there are some events such as Ringan and Dhava that marks the uniqueness of Vari tradition.

During the Ringan a sacred horse called as ‘Maulincha Ashva’, which is believed to be the soul of the saint whose idol is being carried in the Palki, Dhava is another kind of race where everyone wins and it is held to commemorate the same way Saint Tukaram caught the view of Pandharpur Temple and started running in sheer exhilaration.

Its been theoretical knowledge that I had about the phenomena called "Waari"...

Its said that "Knowing is just a knowledge.... Doing is Wisdom"…

All I knew about this holy walk was only limited to my knowledge level.... I haven’t experienced it till then.

But from last two years now, I make sure I do not loose opportunity to participate this unexplainable pilgrimage from Aaalandi to Shivaji nagar.

"Unexplainable" for many reasons...

Because Its hard to explain,

>> how anyone can attain such level of Devotion & Commitment to complete this arduous journey of about 200+ KM on foot to Pandharpur.

Its hard to explain,

>> What is that motivation which makes each "waarkari" to leave his/her everyday work for almost a month.

Its hard to explain

>>The miraculous nature of this sacred walk which is still the same after eight hundred years...

And its hard to explain how this addiction is spread among 10 lac individuals with same intensity...

All these questions have always created a mystic and mysterious fog around this tradition.

The walk of 15+ km gave me a chance to be a part of that aura... it gave a chance to ride on the wave of joy in ocean of devotees.

There was another reason which compelled me.... Photography.

I started imagining unlimited moments of joy and emotions that can be captured through my lens.

From the moment we reached Dehu, it was all magical....

Thousands and thousands of pilgrims walking towards Pune...

Many of them had different playing instruments like veenas, mridungas, dholkis and chiplis.

Everyone seemed to be hypnotized and happy to be part of that ocean of joy... anand sagar.

More than 40 ‘Palkhis’ (palanquins) form a major part of the procession during the pilgrimage.

The pilgrims follow the tradition of carrying the paduka (footwear) of the saints in a palanquin.

Unshakable faith, innocent love towards god and concrete determination is needed to complete this entire journey...

Through out the walk there were hundreds of members distributing free food, water bottles, fruits to warkaris...

There were many housing societies(apartments) on the way which made an excellent arrangement for entire lunch free of cost...

There were REQUESTS being made on loud speaker for pilgrims ("Mauli") to have lunch...

One of the person which we meet was standing out side of his apartment, he literally dragged me to have some lunch...

He said "Mauli... I will be very glad if you have lunch in our apartment"....

He was requesting from the bottom of his heart and the devotion with which he was requesting was clearly visible on his face... It was simply overwhelming... This for me was "spirituality".

That person and many others who were distributing food, water were actual Saints...

I believe this entire travel of 200 KM once will be enough to enrich us with teachings of lifetime...

Attending the fragment of Waari,

I was expecting to get answers but in turn this experience succeeded to make me much more introvert and has thickened the mystic fog around this tradition.