Pandharpur Wari
Also called: Wari · Topic: Human Settlements and Urbanisation in India · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 8 "How the Land Becomes Sacred"
Meaning
The Pandharpur Wari is a yearly 21-day walking pilgrimage in Maharashtra. It belongs to the Warkari tradition and is about 800 years old. Pilgrims carry palkhis (palanquins) of the saints to the Vithoba temple at Pandharpur, which stands on the Bhima river. The palkhi of Dnyaneshwar starts from Alandi, and the palkhi of Tukaram starts from Dehu. The walk reaches Pandharpur for Ashadhi Ekadashi. It shows how a pilgrimage route can tie villages and towns together across a whole region.
Example
Every year, lakhs of Warkaris walk from Alandi, near Pune, to Pandharpur, singing devotional songs along the way. Towns on the route serve as halting points for the walkers.
Don't confuse with
- Kumbh Mela: a giant gathering held in turn at Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik and Ujjain. Pilgrims come to one place to bathe there. The Wari is a moving walk along a fixed route to Pandharpur.