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PMC launches website to man Palkhi [DNA : Daily News & Analysis (India)](DNA : Daily News & Analysis (India) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) " The Palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram will be arriving in the city this weekend and taking halts before they proceed to Pandharpur. Considering the huge number of devotees participating in the procession, the Pune Municipal Corporation has decided make use of technology to reach out to devotees. In order to provide information about facilities to thousands of devotees, the PMC has launched a mobile application and a website. The app and the website was launched at the hands of Pune mayor Chanchala Kodre on Wednesday. The Palkhi procession popularly known as Wari will be arriving in the city this weekend and it will take halt for two days. Considering thousands of devotees pouring in to seek blessings, number of volunteers offer their services for the devotees. " These services include mobile health services, making arrangement for food and water for devotees, shelters but many warkaris who come from outside, do not know whom to contact regarding these service and therefore the website and app has been launched which will give such details to devotees," Kodre said. Not only it will be helpful for devotees, it will be useful for the volunteers who can have better coordination with each other in terms of providing services. Members of laughter clubs, family planning association, students of National Service Scheme and other private companies employees will be working as volunteers to provide these services to devotees. Devotees can visit www.palkhisevapune.in to get the details of Wari. ""Know the wari As Pune gears up to welcome the Palkhi this year, here are 10 quick trivia about the Palkhis that grace the city 1 The Palkhi is a centuries old Maharashtrian tradition that is religiously followed by the Warkari sect every year in the month of Jyeshth or June and lasts 22 days. Wari in Marathi means pilgrimage and those who take the pilgrimages are called Warkaris or pilgrims. The 'dindis' or the group of Warkari's have a fixed schedule and follow it to the dot. 2 The Palkhi was introduced in 1685 by Sant Tukaram's youngest son, 'Narayan Baba' because he wanted to bring changes to the Wari tradition. He put the 'Silver Padukas' (traditional Indian footwear) of Sant Tukaram and went to Alandi with his dindi and then placed Sant Dnyaneshwar's padukas in the same Palkhi. 3 The year of 1830 saw disputes in Sant Tukaram's family and the decision was taken to separate the two Palkhis. This is why, today, the Sant Tukaram Palkhi leaves from Dehu while the Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi leaves from Alandi. 4 At the beginning of the pilgrimage, the wind instrument 'tutari' is blown thrice. The first signal to indicate to the Warkaris to get ready, the second for them to get into their positions and the third for the Palkhi to start moving. 5 The pilgrims have fixed positions. Each 'dindi' has been assigned a number and is given a position either at the beginning or at the end of the Palkhi. Each dindi is led by a flag-bearer waving saffron color flag and the rest of the Warkaris follow in lines of four. The 'veena' players are positioned in the middle and at the end of each 'dindi'. They are followed by the women carrying 'tulsi' or drinking water in pots on their heads. 6 The Palkhis, have in them 'padukas' of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar respectively along with Tulsi saplings in 'Tulsivrundavans'. 7 The sounds of the Veena and the Pakhwaj/Mridang or a two headed drum as it is more commonly known are the instruments used by the Waris during the Palkhi. 8 The 'Maha Puja' is performed by the 'first devotee' entering the temple. 9 There are close to 1.5 lakh devotees that are a part of the Sant Tukaram Palkhi from Dehu and 2-2.5 lakh devotees that are a part of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi from Alandi. The total journey is close to 450 kilometers. 10 Apart from these two Palkhis there are 43 other Palkhi's travelling to Pandharpur near Vithoba Temple, the deity of the Warkari Sect. Source: http://www.maharashtratourism.net/festivals/palkhi-festival.html " Credit:dna correspondent (c) 2014 @ 2014 DILIGENT MEDIA CORPORATION LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |