PUNE, July 4, 2013: Undeterred by the rains, lakhs of warkaris left the city for Pandharpur, one via Saswad and the other via Indapur, on Wednesday morning, chanting bhajans and kirtans.

Walking in dindis, the palkhi procession of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram made its way out of the city early in the morning passing through Pune Cantonment, Fatimanagar, Hadapsar on their way to Pandharpur via the two routes.

Many political parties, non-governmental organisations and individuals distributed fruits, sweets, and medicines, etc. to the warkaris. Dressed in traditional attire, many city-based IT professional, trekkers, school and college students bid farewell to the warkaris on the way.

Wearing rain-coats, police personnel were seen guiding the warkaris along the Pune-Solapur Road even as some expats captured the images of the dindis on their mobile cameras. Enthralled by the number of people seen on the roads, Isabella Mangi from Italy said, "I am thrilled by the spirit of the devotees and I too walked some distance with them. The entire city was gripped with wari fever for two days."

Seventeen-year-old Amol Ranamle from Alandi said that this was the third time he was going to Pandharpur. "I like playing the dumroo and I derive strength from my devotion to Lord Pandurang to complete the journey. My parents have been going for the wari for years and I am carrying forward the legacy," he said.

Hailing from Beed district, 20-year-old Manisha Lande, was inspired by her grandparents to join the annual pilgrimage."While the rest of the year I am busy with my studies I eagerly wait to take part in the wari every year along with my friends," she said. 18-year-old Dayanand Choudhari from Chincholi in Jalgaon said that he was a first timer and was very excited about wari.

It was raining since early morning but the warkaris kept moving with the help of make-shift rain-coats and umbrellas.

Source: Sakal Times, DT. July 4, 2013.