Warkari Community Celebrated Palkhi Festival In Maharashtra
Palkhi festival is an annual yatra to Pandharpur – the seat of the Hindu god Vithoba in Maharashtra, in honour of the deity.
About the festival:
The Palkhi starts in the month of Jyeshth (June). Every year on the eleventh day of the first half of the month of Ashadh (July), the Palkhi reaches Pandharpur( a pilgrimage town on the banks of Candrabhagā River in Solapur District, Maharashtra). The devotees take a holy dip in the sacred Chandrabhaga River before proceeding to visit the Vithoba/Vitthal temple in Pandharpur. The whole process lasts a total of 22 days.
History:
Palkhi is a 1000-year-old Maharashtrian practise that is still practised by its followers known as warkaris (those who follow tradition 'Wari'). In the year 1685, Narayan Baba, the youngest son of Sant Tukaram started the Wari tradition. The word ‘Warkari’ is derived from Wari, which means to travel. Warkaris are devotees of Lord Vitthal or Lord Vithoba. Vithoba is a form of the god ‘Vishnu’ & it means ‘Lord who stands on a brick’
About the Hindu calendar:
• Our national calendar is based on the Saka Era, with Chaitra being the first month and 365 days in a year.
• It was adopted from 22 March 1957 along with the Gregorian calendar for the official purposes
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