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| This tree was bereft of any leaves despite flourishing foliage all around it |
Bereft (Wordless Wednesday)
Monsoon Beauty (Wordless Wednesday)
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.
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.
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| 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!!
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| 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! |
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| Rangoli to welcome the Palkhi |
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| Many chose to have the typical tilak painted on the forehead |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Warkaris |
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| For some reason people rushed to touch this horse |
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| Elaborate masts |
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| 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.
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| 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!
🙂
Orange Route (Wordless Wednesday)
X is for Xanthium
Welcome!
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge. Most of the herbs written in this series are those I have seen or used. Today’s herb elicited happy childhood memories from my botany friends when I shared the images with them. Being brought up in the great city of Bombay (as it was then called) I was unfamiliar with this… Namely, kids often throw spiny fruit of this plant at people and watch it stick to their clothing. Obviously people in that age group find it funny!!
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge. Most of the herbs written in this series are those I have seen or used. Today’s herb elicited happy childhood memories from my botany friends when I shared the images with them. Being brought up in the great city of Bombay (as it was then called) I was unfamiliar with this… Namely, kids often throw spiny fruit of this plant at people and watch it stick to their clothing. Obviously people in that age group find it funny!!
So here we have it, X is for Xanthium strumarium which belongs to the Asteraceae family. Locally its called Shankeshwar or Ghagra in Marathi and another common name is Common Cocklebur. Naturally it was the bright shiny spiny fruit that caught my eye and some closer inspection of its leaves, stem and fruit helped identify the herb after I reached home.
Ghagra is said to belong to Central America but it has now naturalised all around the world. The spiny fruit probably helps in seed dispersal by clinging on to animal fur. The herb has large lobed hairy leaves and the fruits are formed on the stem itself. The plant parts are said to have medicinal uses as well.
Have you any such childhood memories to share?
We are nearing the end of our blogging journey with another two days to go.
Hang in there friends!
🙂
W is for Withania
Welcome!
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge. Most of the herbs written in this series are those I have seen or used. Today’s herb is of immense medicinal importance in Ayurveda, so much so that India Posts has issued a stamp in its honour!
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge. Most of the herbs written in this series are those I have seen or used. Today’s herb is of immense medicinal importance in Ayurveda, so much so that India Posts has issued a stamp in its honour!
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| Image courtesy Department of Posts |
W is for Withania somnifera commonly called Aswagandha or Winter Cherry. It belongs to the Solanaceae family (Brinjal or Egg Plant also belongs to this family). Unlike most herbs that I have described so far, this plant can grow up to six feet tall and has hairy plant parts. The fruits are striking with as they are covered with the papery calyx. It is said that the berries can be used in making cheese to substitute rennet. Here is an image of the plant with fruit that I have seen at the Udan Biodiversity Park but my friends have seen it growing wild around the city as well.
Here is a study about the medicinal effects of Ashwagandha. Worth reading this but at your leisure…
We are almost at the end of our journey and I am sure its been a wonderful month!
Take care folks!
🙂
V is for Vishnukranta
Welcome!
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge. Most of the herbs written in this series are those I have seen or used. Today’s herb is native to South America but is naturalised in many parts of the world, including India.
V is for Vishnukranta which is the local Marathi name for Evolvulus alsinoides belonging to the Convolvulaceae family. The herb is also called Dwarf Morning Glory. I have seen Vishnukranta growing on our tekdi (hills) and its blue flowers demand attention. I have found it to be prostrate and the branches spread out almost radially from a centre. The flowers, leaves and stem appear ‘hairy’! Vishnukranta is said to have immense medicinal value as well.
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge. Most of the herbs written in this series are those I have seen or used. Today’s herb is native to South America but is naturalised in many parts of the world, including India.
V is for Vishnukranta which is the local Marathi name for Evolvulus alsinoides belonging to the Convolvulaceae family. The herb is also called Dwarf Morning Glory. I have seen Vishnukranta growing on our tekdi (hills) and its blue flowers demand attention. I have found it to be prostrate and the branches spread out almost radially from a centre. The flowers, leaves and stem appear ‘hairy’! Vishnukranta is said to have immense medicinal value as well.
I have yet another medicinal herb for you tomorrow, I am sure many of you would have heard of it.
Till then, happy blogging!
🙂
S is for Spermacoce pusilla
Welcome!
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge. Most of the herbs written in this series are those I have seen or used. Today I am writing about a herb that I have identified using the Flowers of Sahyadri app- I think the id is correct but am open to correction from any botany experts..
This tiny white inflorescence caught my eye as we waited for the coffee to boil on our make shift stove outside a sacred grove near Pune. The perfect blooms seemed to reiterate the survival spirit of every living being however small!
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge. Most of the herbs written in this series are those I have seen or used. Today I am writing about a herb that I have identified using the Flowers of Sahyadri app- I think the id is correct but am open to correction from any botany experts..
This tiny white inflorescence caught my eye as we waited for the coffee to boil on our make shift stove outside a sacred grove near Pune. The perfect blooms seemed to reiterate the survival spirit of every living being however small!
This Spermacoce pusilla commonly called Tiny False Buttonweed or Tarkadal in Marathi of the Rubiaceae family. It has a quandragular stem with tiny prickles. S pusilla belongs to the Rubiaceae family (Coffee family) and is native to India.
Sopubia delphinifolia is yet another pretty herb that is seen on Pune tekdis. Sesamum orientale has pretty pink trumpet shaped flowers and I have seen it blooming in the monsoon.
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| Sesamum orientale |
Do come round tomorrow for yet another beautiful monsoon herb.
Happy blogging!
🙂
B is for Biophytum
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge and its only the second day. Here is what B has in store…
Walking up to the hill near our home is a part of my regular exercise, and observing the plant life there has been an addition over the past couple of years. 2015 saw less than normal rainfall which meant I could enjoy the hill during the monsoon months as well. The weather did allow for plenty of herbs to grow and I was happy to spot several as they bloomed. A few tiny plants (only about 8″tall) with brilliant yellow blooms caught my eye and when I tried to examine the leaves, they ‘closed’ as do the leaves of Touch Me Not (Mimosa pudica)! Whoa… these leaves were sensitive to touch, a wonderful surprise indeed!
Walking up to the hill near our home is a part of my regular exercise, and observing the plant life there has been an addition over the past couple of years. 2015 saw less than normal rainfall which meant I could enjoy the hill during the monsoon months as well. The weather did allow for plenty of herbs to grow and I was happy to spot several as they bloomed. A few tiny plants (only about 8″tall) with brilliant yellow blooms caught my eye and when I tried to examine the leaves, they ‘closed’ as do the leaves of Touch Me Not (Mimosa pudica)! Whoa… these leaves were sensitive to touch, a wonderful surprise indeed!
This made it easier to identify the plant. My research shows that the herb is of the Biophytum genus and is either Biophytum sensitivum or Biophytum reinwardtii of the Oxilidaceae family. The difference seems to be in the leaf arrangement and leaflets and flowering season. I am happy to have narrowed down my search to the genus level. I would need help to zero down further…
I have used an app called Flowers of Sahyadri to shortlist species for identification solely using flower colour and season as the filters.
It is said that the flowers of B sensitivum are an important part of the Pookalam which is a rangoli made with flowers in the state of Kerala in India (where this plant is called Mukkutti).B reinwardtii also grows up to an altitude of 1000m. Both these species are native to India.
What plants have you noticed in your neighbourhood?
Tomorrow is a Sunday, our first ‘holiday’ in this AtoZ…
Hope to catch up on many interesting blogs out there.
Take care!
Shringar (Wordless Wednesday)
