ASHADHI VARI 2026 - Shri Vitthal Rukmini @ Pandharpur
श्री. विठ्ठल रुक्मिणी मंदिर, पंढरपूर.
For those who are new to VARI, I have divided this post as follows:
Lord Krishna is everywhere and is the Lord of the Universe. In India Krishna Bhagwan is in everyone's heart and for darshan at:
In the north as Shrinathji at Nathdwara, Rajasthan.
In the east as Shri Jagannath at Puri, Orissa.
In the west as Shri Vitthal at Pandharpur, Maharashtra.
In the south as Shri Tirupati Balaji at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh.
Devotees are allowed darshan by touching Lord Krishna's Murti (statue doesn't convey what Murti means) only at Pandharpur and Govardhan. One can touch Vitthal Mauli's feet at Pandharpur temple!
Before we understand this grand and divine pilgrimage, we must know the difference between the saints and the varkaris.
We human beings, suffer from these 6 internal enemies or demons (Shadripu):
Kama (Lust / Uncontrolled desire).
Lobha (Greed / Miserliness).
Moha (Delusion / Attachment).
Madha (Pride / Arrogance).
Matsarya (Jealousy / Envy).
Sant or Saint is one who has overcome and won over these 6 demons.
Pilgrim or Varkari (warkari) is one who attacks and overcomes these 6 enemies.
The vari starts from Alandi and Dehu and takes two different routes and similarly many palkhis start from many villages all over Maharahstra. All the palkhis converge at WAKHARI village. Wakhari is 5 to 6 km away from Pandharpur & I had visited Wakhari to see the RINGAN SOHALA (celebration).
The entire vari from Alandi and Dehu to Pandharpur is approximately 250 km and takes around 18 days or so, by walk!
10 Honored Palkhis of Pandharpur Wari:
Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi (Alandi, Pune).
Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi (Dehu, Pune).
Sant Sopandev Maharaj Palkhi (Saswad, Pune).
Sant Muktai Palkhi (Muktainagar, Jalgaon)
Sant Nivruttinath Maharaj Palkhi (Trimbakeshwar, Nashik).
Sant Eknath Maharaj Palkhi (Paithan, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar).
Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi (Nevasa, Ahmednagar).
Sant Gajanan Maharaj Palkhi (Shegaon, Buldhana).
Sant Changdev Maharaj Palkhi (Changdev, Jalgaon).
Sant Rohidas Maharaj Palkhi (Chachar).
Dyanobanche ringan = gol or round.
Tukobanche ringan = ubhe or straight.
Ringan happens at the biggest open air ground or areas. In Wakhari village it happens at Wakhari Ringan Tal or ground.
There are two horses. A rider rides one of them. Mauli HIMSELF rides the other horse and everyone runs behind the horse collecting the dust trodden by MAULI's horse. The dust is revered and collected and applied respectfully on the forehead. It also carried home.
This is my first ever experience of Vari. Please pardone my understandings and misunderstandings - a sincere request to all the VARKARIS, devotees, pilgrims and everyone.
I was trying to visit Pandharpur since 4 years and I used to be always late to ask the information or too late to book the trains. I also tried doing the Pandharpur cycle vari, but didn't make it. Each year, I would postpone telling myself one day I will go. This year, I was called, I suppose. The call is from the Lord himself. It is said you go only when you are called and not till then. My friends were patient with my questions and encouraged me every time, for the next time.
This time, my friend Vinu (VAH) told me that there is a group led by Rupesh & Sachin and he put me in touch with them. Luckily the train tickets were available! My friend from Surat, Ankur bhai also joined. The group was almost of 50 members, many of them newcomers to vari, like me.
We reached Kurduvadi railway station and a couple of shared vans picked us and dropped us at Wakhari.
My vari started from Wakhari. Our aim was to reach the Wakhari ringan tal to see the ringan sohala (celebration). Certain words don't sound good in English and so I am sticking to Marathi and adding its meaning in brackets in English. Breakfast followed by a brief introduction by Rupesh and we were ready to start.
Vari is like a river. It flows. You can either stay at the banks and see the joy pass by OR you can dip in the river and get wet and enjoy the VARI.
Initially I was hesitant and then slowly I immersed myself. Mixed with all. Mixed with the strangers who became friends. We sang and danced as we were going to the ringan tal. There is a tradition here - everyone is created in image of Lord Vitthal and after every dance and song with the varkaris, all the participants touch each others feet. So divine!
Around 2 pm we reached the ringan tal. Varkaris were already seated there on the ground. Some had climbed the trees or the billboards too! They were there since the morning or the night, I don't know. And for what?
They were all waiting for the Palkhis of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dyaneshwar Maharaj. The palkhis arrived at around 6 pm instead of the usual 4 pm. Both these palkhis travel separately along different routes and converge at Wakhari, a day before reaching Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadashi. The raths (chariots) in which these palkhis travel are made of gold and silver.
Sant Tukaram Maharajancha Rath and Palki.
Sant Dyaneshwar Maharajancha Rath
The sun was hot. There were no rains. We sat or stood. Then after some time, I got tired and sat in the ringan with the varkaris. The person next to me - Mr Naiknaware - began chatting. He answered all my curious queries without ridiculing me. This simple man, a varkari - I felt was the Lord himself. He told me everything, what to photograph and how to avoid being crushed by the people. I wanted to say good bye to him, but he had vanished.
There is a wave of ecstasy when these palkhis come.
A holy dip in Chandrabhaga river, followed by darshan of Pundalik Maharaj and then Vitthu Mauli mandir’s kalas (shikhar or temple top) is considered as completeing the vari.
When varkaris say - Mauli - it has 3 meanings - Lord Vitthal himself or Sant Dyaneshwar Maharaj or each other. You have to grasp which Mauli is being referred to and this you will know only when you participate in the Vari!
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