Author: Archana

Once a Physiotherapist now a Wordsmith. Field Botanist. Bonsai. Proud Indian. Fauji Wife. Doting Mother and Mother-in-law. Devoted Grandmother. Reluctant Cook. Happiest on a road less travelled. 60s are the new 40s ;-)
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Pandharpur Wari – a photo walk in Pune

For some reason, all these years I had never ventured to actually see and experience the ethos of the Pandharpur Wari but this year I did. And I was quite amazed at its organisation and enthusiasm of Punekars.

Brief background: The Pandharpur Wari (aka Palkhi) is an approximately 800 year old tradition wherein devotees of Sant Dynaneshwar and Sant Tukaram walk from Alandi to Pandharpur in the Hindu month of Ashadh (roughly June end or July). It is a very well planned pilgrimage with overnight halts scheduled at cities/towns en-route. People of these towns usually welcome the Warkaris (as the people undertaking the walk are called). Since the event involves lakhs of people, roads are shut for traffic, vehicles redirected and the local administration goes into overdrive to cater to this huge demand on city infrastructure. 


2016 saw me walking down to the Fergusson College Road from where the Wari enters Pune to make its halt at the Nivdunga Vithoba temple. Instead of text, I am posting a series of photos to give you a glimpse of fervour. I was quite happy to see that the PMC had made a huge effort to keep the roads clean, and the presence of the Pune Police maintained peace for the Warkaris and people who had come for ‘Darshan’. Despite forecasts of heavy rain, the weather god stayed away.




Pandharpur wari, Pune, Wari
Being vehicle-free, people walked in the centre of the roads. 

Waiting for the procession to arrive, people made themselves comfortable on the roadside culverts, staircases of shops in fact anything that was a vantage view point. The roads had got a fresh dusting of bleaching powder and an ambulance was positioned at a central spot. Strangely, it already seemed to be in business!!

The arrow indicates folks seeking advice of the health worker inside!

While most shops had shut, hotels and food stalls did roaring business as both young and old waited patiently.
There were enough and more photo-ops for the vast turn out of photographers who were keen to record the happenings via the ‘third eye’ as it were! 
Pune, rangoli, payghadya
Rangoli to welcome the Palkhi
Many chose to have the typical tilak painted on the forehead
Wari, Pune
Tilak 

The Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla was seen walking down with her senior officers which went a long way in boosting morale of the police force and public.

Power Walk! This photo from a tweet by @PuneCityPolice

And suddenly, the pilgrims started walking in. They walked in step in groups least concerned about us gawking at them. Their faith is what gave them the strength to take up this long walk. They sang hymns as they walked and some carried their bags on their heads. The IT folk have a separate IT Dindi which invariably grabs newspaper attention.

Warkaris

Pandharpur wari, palkhi, Pune
For some reason people rushed to touch this horse 
Elaborate masts
Each Dindi had a Tulshi vrundavan that was carried by a lady. 
The Dindi were numbered and I noted them in descending order towards the first Palkhi. 


Finally, the decorated Palkhi carrying Sant Tukaram’s Paduka. 

Palkhi, Wari, Pune
Sant Tukaram Paduka

The Palkhi procession had a quiet grace and Punekars did not disappoint with their self discipline! In comparison, the Ganesh Visarjan procession is a more high profile, high decible procession where the electrified decorations and the Dhol pathaks are the show stealers!! 


The two cannot be compared at all except that both effectively throw traffic movement completely out of gear!!

The Wari halts in Pune for a day or two and then sets course for Pandharpur. I had plans to undertake this walk a couple of years ago but could not do so for various reasons. In the meanwhile, I can stay updated virtually via the Facebook Dindi . You can also search for #Palkhi or #Wari on Twitter for more amazing photographs. 


Have any of you undertaken this pilgrimage or any other? What was your experience?
Take care folks!
🙂

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Ticking off a bucket list

Its been a hectic start to June with series of back to back out bound training programs which gave me a good excuse to delay my posts here. I always wonder how I got 26 posts up without a hitch in April and find umpteen excuses at all other times of the year…
Sigh…


Once back to civilization, I came across this bucket list posted by Denise and it seemed a good idea to check out on what I have been doing in my life other than work/work/worry/homework etc… I do have a travel wish list but nothing of this kind.. Apparently this is a version of a list that has been circulating on Facebook for a while but I have not seen that one.. 


So here goes… I have put a cross before whichever item I have completed…


( ) Shot a gun
( ) Gone on a blind date
(X) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Visited Canada
( ) Visited Hawaii
( ) Visited Cuba
(X)Visited Europe
( ) Visited South America
( ) Visited Las Vegas
( ) Visited Central America
(X) Visited Asia
( )Visited Africa
( ) Visited Florida
( ) Visited Mexico
(X) Seen the Grand Canyon in person
( ) Flown in a helicopter
( ) Served on a jury
( ) Been lost
( X) Traveled to the opposite side of the country
(x) Visited Washington, DC
( ) Swam in the Ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Played cowboys and Indians (Indians in my youth, now Native Americans).
( ) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Sang karaoke
( ) Sang a solo or duet in church
( ) Paid for a meal with coins only
(X) Made prank phone calls
(X) Laughed until some beverage came out of your nose
( ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X )Had children
( ) Had a pet
( ) Been skinny-dipping
( ) Been fishing
(X) Been boating
( ) Been Downhill Skiing
( )Been water skiing
( ) Been camping in a trailer/RV
(X) Been camping in a tent
( ) Driven a motorcycle
( ) Been bungee-jumping
(X) Gone to a drive-in movie
(X) Done something that could have killed you
(X)Done something that you will regret for the rest of your life
(X) Rode an elephant
(X)Rode a camel
(X) Eaten just cookies or cake or ice cream for dinner
( ) Been on TV
( ) Stolen any traffic signs
(X)Been in a car accident
( ) Been in the Hospital in past 24 months
( ) Donated blood
( ) Gotten a (speeding) or any other type of ticket in the past 12 months
(X) Gotten a piercing (ears count)
( ) Gotten a Tattoo
(X) Driven a manual transmission vehicle
( ) Ever owned your dream car
(X)Been Married
( ) Been divorced
(X )Fell in love
( ) Fell out of love
( ) Paid for a strangers meal
( ) Driven over 120 mph
( ) Been scuba diving
(X ) Written a published book/story/poetry
( ) Eaten snails


Go on.. Its your turn now..
🙂
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Another Recognition!

Yay!! 
Recognition for a blog is always a great moment for a blogger and I am no exception. I was nominated a while ago for the first time and recently Seena nominated me for the Liebster Award! I met Seena in the blogworld via the April AtoZ Blogging Challenge in 2016. 
Thank you Seena 🙂 




These are the rules of the award:

  • Thank the person who nominated you and post a link to their blog in your post
  • Display the award on your blog – by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a ‘widget’ or a ‘gadget’
  • Answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you
  • Provide 11 random facts about yourself
  • Nominate 5-11 blogs that you feel deserve the blog, and have less than 1000 followers
  • Create a new list of 11 questions for the nominees to answer

Here are the answers to the questions that Seena has posed:


1. Sunny Days or the Rains?
Rains
2. Morning person or Night Owl
Morning person- always!!
3. Do you have a morning routine
Yes. Almost since I can remember!
4. Are you a planner? How far ahead do you plan?
Not really. Nothing more than the essentials…
5. Do you experience envy? How do you deal with it?
Ofcourse! I have no claims to being an evolved soul, so envy does make a rare unwelcome appearance. In that case, I end up looking at what I do have and that helps a lot.
6. Can you do without desert?
Nope! I love sweets and its tough to say no as they do nothing to help my proclaimed and unsuccessful attempts at weight loss..
7. Something you absolutely need on your pizza?
Cheese
8. Something you are afraid of?
Sickness
9. How handicapped do you feel without your phone?
Actually, I have realised, its a state of mind. If I am enjoying whatever activity/situation I am attending without a phone then the absence of the phone doesnt matter. The moment I am bored or lose interest, I start missing my phone!
10. If you could, would your be an employee or entrepreneur?
That’s a tough one.. I guess employee… 
11. Do you enjoy audio books?
To tell you the truth,  I havent ‘heard’ any as yet..


As per the rules of the award, here are 11 random facts about myself:


1. Reluctant cook
2. Keen to try out different forms of exercise
3. Want to keep up with news from around the world
4. Want to travel to non touristy destinations
5. Like to read fiction
6. Enjoy Dhrupad 
7. Favourite past time in public places is to watch peoples expressions’
8. Love continental food
9. Enjoy Hollywood movies
10. Hope to identify all trees on my exercise route 
11. Stitching clothes has never been my skill


That was quite difficult! 


Accepting this award means I  have to nominate five blogs. And here they are (in no particular order)…


Chocolate Coffee Cream
The Era I Lived In
Direct Dil Se
Herb Thyme
The Solitary Writer


Now the final part… 11 random questions for my nominees..


1. Why did you start blogging?
2. Given another chance, which career would you choose?
3. What is your favourite food?
4. Do you exercise daily?
5. Can you read and write your mother tongue (if its not English)?
6. Have you gone out of your way to help a needy person?
7. What is your idea of a perfect holiday?
8. Can you cook? 
9. Do you know about composting? 
10. Do you recycle?
11. Given a choice, would you use your own vehicle or public transport?


Happy Blogging everyone!
🙂

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