On July 25, 2026, CTMM (Connecticut Maharashtra Mandal) welcomed our entire community to a Pandharichi Wari right here at Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple — an evening of procession, bhajans, and togetherness rooted in one of Maharashtra's oldest and most beloved traditions.

The Wari is a walking pilgrimage of devotion, and CTMM's Pandharichi Wari brought its spirit to Middletown, Connecticut, so that our community, near and far from Maharashtra, could experience the joy, discipline, and unity that this tradition has carried for centuries.

The Pandharpur Wari: An 800-Year-Old Journey

The Pandharpur Wari is one of the oldest and largest pilgrimage traditions in India, drawing lakhs of devotees, known as Warkaris, who walk hundreds of miles across Maharashtra to reach the temple of Lord Vitthal (Vithoba) and Goddess Rukmini in Pandharpur. The pilgrimage converges each year around Ashadhi Ekadashi, considered one of the most sacred days in the Hindu calendar, when the palkhis (palanquins) carrying the padukas (holy footwear) of revered sant-kavis such as Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram are carried in procession toward Pandharpur.

For nearly 800 years, generation after generation of Warkaris has walked this path, singing abhangs and keeping alive the teachings of Maharashtra's Bhakti saints — Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, Namdev, and Eknath — who taught that devotion to God is found not in ritual alone, but in humility, equality, and a life lived simply and sincerely.

The Warkari Path: Simplicity and Devotion

Warkaris are easily recognized by their simple, distinctive dress: white clothing and a Gandhi cap for men, and sarees for women, alongside a tulsi mala (a necklace of sacred basil beads) worn as a mark of devotion to Vitthal. Pilgrims travel in organized groups called dindis, walking together, singing bhajans and kirtans, and reciting the Haripath, a set of devotional verses composed by Sant Dnyaneshwar.

At the heart of the Warkari tradition is a message of unity that transcends caste and social distinction — a reminder that all devotees walk the same path together, equal in the eyes of God. It is this spirit of shared devotion and community that CTMM's Pandharichi Wari brought to our temple grounds.

CTMM Pandharichi Wari at CVHTS

On Saturday, July 25, 2026, starting at 4:00 PM, CTMM hosted a Pandharichi Wari at Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple, Middletown, CT. The program included:

4:00 PM — Gathering and Welcome
4:15 PM — Wari Procession from the Temple Arch
Approximately 45 minutes — Walk around the temple along the Wari route
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM — Bhajans, Kirtan, and Devotional Program
6:00 PM onwards — Prasad Distribution and Community Gathering

Devotees dressed in keeping with Warkari tradition — men in white clothes and Gandhi caps, and women in sarees — and many brought tulsi plants to honor the tradition together as a community.

Come, Walk Together, Celebrate Our Culture

It was a family-friendly celebration, open to devotees of all ages. Whether attendees grew up walking the Wari in Maharashtra or were experiencing this tradition for the first time, CTMM's Pandharichi Wari gave our community the chance to walk together in devotion, sing together in celebration, and grow stronger together.

The chants brought us closer, and our traditions grew with each step. Thank you to everyone who came out to walk together and celebrate our culture!

— CVHTS