Picture Postcard on Pandharichi Waari – 29th June 2016.

Considered to be one of the world’s largest pilgrimages, the annual Pandharichi Waari carrying Jnaneshwar Palkhi from Alandi (25km east of Pune), to Pandharpur Vithoba Temple is attended by millions of devotees every year. The waarkaris (devotees / pilgrims) from Alandi follow the palanquin carrying the silver images of the Padukas (Sandals) of Saint Dnyaneshwar. Sant Dnyaneshwar, also known as Jnanadev or Jnaneshwar revolutionized Marathi bhakti literature and at the age of fifteen wrote Jnaneswari – a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita which has been a household text in Maharashtrian homes for centuries.

On 29th June Waari reached at Pune and will stay in the city on 30th June, 2016. The Waari will travel through Pune, Saswad, Jejuri, Vhalhe, Lonand, Taradgaon, Phaltan, Barad, Natepute, Malshiras, Velapur, Bhandishegaon, Vakhari to reach Pandharpur. Other palakhi starting near pune is – Saint Tukaram Maharaj Palakhi, which starts from Dehu (near Pune) through Akurdi, Pune, Loni Kalbhor, Yavat, Varvand, Baramati, Sansar, Lasurne, Nimgaon Ketaki, Indapur, Sarati, Akaluj, Borgaon, Pirachi Kuroli, Vakhari to Pandharpur. Both the Palakhi merge together in Vakhari, just prior to Pandharpur.

Waarkari’s mostly dressed in dothi/kurta or women in sari, playing Taal, Mridang, Veena (Indian musical instruments), and singing songs, called as Abhang’s of the Saints keep walking with an eagerness to Lord see Vitthala in Pandarpur. The atmosphere of Waari teaches unity by bringing people having different economic status, casts, education, etc. together, with a common goal of reaching the almighty – Vitthala.

On second day of ‘Waari’ a Picture Postcard depicting Alandi temple with special cancellation of Pune was released.

Pandharichi Wari Mobile Post Office to be flagged off on 28th June 2016.

Vitthal temple of Pandharpur is the main centre of worship for Vitthala or Vithoba, believed to be a form of Lord Krishna or Vishnu and Pandharichi Wari is an annual pilgrimage to pay tributes to Lord Viththala in Pandharpur. The word ‘Wari’ in Marathi literally means ‘to visit at regular intervals’. This Wari is held during the months of June and July, starting on Jyeshta Vada Ashtami from Alandi and culminates at Pandharpur a distance of more than 205 Kms, on Ashadhi Ekadashi, the 11th day of Ashadha. Waarkaris' (Devotees) start their journey by foot carrying the palkhis (palanquin processions) carrying the paduka (foot prints) of famous saints of Maharashtra, most notably Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram. This tradition is more than 700 to 800 years old.

This annual pilgrimage has an important socio-cultural significance and to facilitate the communication service amongst the Waarkari, Pune Postal Region for the first time has taken up an initiative of introducing a unique Pandarchi Waari Mobile Post Office from 28th June 2016 to 16th July 2016. The Pandharichi Waari Mobile Post Office housed in a Mail Motor Service Van of Department of Posts will accompany the Wari from Alandi Devachi Post Office from 28th June and will reach Pandharpur on 15th July 2016.

Postal facilities viz. sale of postage stamps, mailing of ordinary letters, Registration, Speed Post booking, Money Order Service (Devotees can also receive payment of Money Order by producing identity proof), My Stamp facility etc. will be made available in Mobile Post Office. Benefits of various Govt. Schemes will also be explained at Mobile Post Office. The Mobile Post Office will halt al all the scheduled halts listed in the 'Waari Palkhi Sohala'.

On this occasion a set of 15 postcards specially printed with photographs capturing various memorable moments of Wari will be available for sale at the Mobile Post Office. The cost of the set of 15 postcards is Rs. 110. Postcards can also be mailed through Mobile Post Office by affixing Rs. 6 Postage Stamp. Another set of 5 postcards depicting images of postage stamps issued on ‘Sant Namdeo’, ‘Sant Eknath’, ‘Dnyaneshwari’, ‘Sant Tukaram’ and ‘Sant Dnyaneshwar’ will also be made available at Rs. 50 per set of 5 postcards. All these saints and the Dnyaneshwari are revered by the warkaris. Special Cancellation for each day of eighteen-day pilgrimage depicting the 'Sprit of Wari' will be made available at the Mobile Post Office. This is the first time that such mobile post office is accompanying the pilgrimage.