Pandharpur Wari

Thousands of people called varkari reach Pandharpur from Alandi and Dehu after walking for about 250km in Aashad (a hindu month) Ekadashi (11th day of the moon). They walk with palkhis carrying padukas of the saints singing sacred songs. Warkari is a sampradaya within the bhakti spiritual tradition of Hinduism, geographically associated with the Indian state of Maharashtra. Warkaris worship Vitthal, the presiding deity of Pandharpur, regarded as a form of Krishna. This is the part that holds the highest significance of Pandharpur Waari and the part where the magic happens. This walk is not just an escape from reality for lakhs of people. It is something that keeps them focused and connected to a power bigger than them. People spend 21 days on the road withering bad weather with no luxuries like hotels or rich food. This walk to the Vitthala temple in Maharashtra reaffirms the faith of countless people. According to me “This is not a walk of blind faith, but the Pandharpur Waari is a walk of love and showing respect to Lord Vitthal.”  The journey to Vitthala temple in Maharashtra is one where you can lose control. Where you can go with the flow without a care in the world! Furthermore, it is where you feel being taken care of by the Universe itself and where you can just be. Spirituality is not always sitting in an isolated cave and meditating in the name of God for years. Just like Lord Krishna explained to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita, there are many ways you can attain Moksha.