Ashadhi Ekadashi

The eleventh lunar day (Ekadashi) in the month of Ashadh is celebrated as Aashadhi Ekadashi. On this day, a huge religious procession of pilgrims known as Waari (Yatra) culminates at Pandharpur, in Maharashtra. Pandharpur is the main center of worship of the deity Vitthal, The Yatra involves carrying the paduka (ancient form of footwear) of saints in a palanquin. Around 1000,000 pilgrims join this procession on foot. Warkari is a Marathi term that means "one who performs the wari(religious procession )“. The tradition is more than 800 years old. The journey takes 21 days. Devotees from across Maharashtra and nearby areas leave for Pandharpur, wearing holy basil beads and singing the glories of Vithoba and songs commemorating the saints. One of the traditions is to run toward the end of wari (Dhava). It is said that Saint Tukaram started running toward the temple from a nearby village Welapur when he was going to this temple because he couldn’t wait to see the Lord Vithoba. To commemorate that occasion some of the pilgrims run from Welapur to the temple (around 20 miles). When they reach Pandharpur on Ekadashi, the devotees bathe in the sacred Bhima River before visiting the temple. People observe fast this day which includes abstinence from all grains, beans, and cereals, as well as certain vegetables. #indianfestival #indianfestivals #pandharpurwari