This year one of the most important things in my to do list was visiting the pandarpur wari yatra. it was when i saw the waari pictures of my guru Saurabh Chatterjee and decided to visit this famous hindu annual pilgrimage.
It is in the month of Ashadhi Ekadashi where millions of devotees walk along the 450-km route from Alandi (near Pune) to Pandarpur (near Kolhapur) in Western Maharashtra.All through the journey they sing devotional songs and bhajans of lord vittala (vithal) the melody which remains with you forever.
The sight of seeing the devotees of all ages the young t he old and the kids walking happy all the way through rain or shine in happiness to meet lord, the women carrying the Sacred tulasi on there head men carrying an ektari with a saffron flag attached is truly a devotional sight to see.
All through there journey the Warkaris always address each other as ‘Mauli’ (mother like) and never use their real names,as the mother is considered lord of incarnation.
The biggest and constant attraction in the WARI SOHALA has been the RINGAN (a circular pattern or arrangement which is followed by the WARKARIS). The high point or zenith of the BHAJAN is the RINGAN. It is a source of distraction and respite after long hours of walk for the WARKARIS.Before the RINGAN is started you can see thousands of people dancing singing on devotional songs and playing phugadi.
Deepthi Ghalke Photography 
Beautiful captures Deepti…great work
Thank you so much for the feedback sir 🙂
good work
Thank you so much hemant 🙂
Awesome deepu !! Beautiful narration combined with amazing pictures !! Great work .. Kudos 🙂
Thank you so much Anju 🙂
Great the pictures in the blog! What is the old man doing in #5-6? The crowds in #2 – how far do they stretch?! And, I love the son in #9!
Are you going to stick with the Wari for more time – hope you are going to update your blog.
Thank you so much 🙂 The old man in pic 5-6 its during the time of RINGAN a sacred horse called Maulincha Ashva, who is believed to be the soul of the saint whose idol is being carried in the Palki, runs through the rows of pilgrims and this old man was trying to exhilarating the horse.
Pic 2 – the pilgrimage starts from Alandi near Pune and walk for 150 KM in 21 days to reach Pandharpur near Sholapur.
Thank you so much, it encourages me to write more on different places 🙂
what does Mauli mean exactly? and, is it written as माऊली और माऊळी?
thanks
Mauli is usually referred to “Mother” in Marathi its “माऊळी” 🙂
Thanks Deepthi!
good going depi…weldone
Thank you so much 🙂