Mumbai: Saints hold a significant place in Indian culture. The Warkari tradition has spread messages of compassion, forgiveness, kindness, love, and equality to every household in Maharashtra. By transcending caste, religion, and social divisions, the Warkari movement has united society. In the Wari pilgrimage, no one asks about anyone’s caste — it is a movement of equality, love, tolerance, and spiritual upliftment.
For these reasons, Sant Dnyaneshwar is recognized as a revolutionary egalitarian saint, said Maharashtra’s Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Chhagan Bhujbal, at an event organized by the Warkari Sahitya Parishad at the Yashwantrao Chavan Center in Mumbai. The event was presided over by Vitthal (Kakaji) Patil.
The event was attended by several dignitaries including Maharashtra’s Minister of Industries Uday Samant, Minister of Social Justice Sanjay Shirsath, former Minister Prakashappa Awade, MLA Santosh Bangar, former MLA Shahaji Bapu Patil, Warkari Sahitya Parishad President Vitthal (Kakaji) Patil, revered Warkari saints Madhav Shivanikar, Narharibuva Chaudhary, Nivrutti Namdas, Srikant Hulwan, along with many parishad members and Warkari devotees.
On this occasion, a decision was announced by Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to grant ₹20,000 to each Wari procession (Dindi). A felicitation ceremony was organized to honor this decision, which could not be attended by Shinde due to his presence at a blood donation camp in Srinagar. The award was accepted on his behalf by Minister Sanjay Shirsath.
Speaking at the event, Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said Maharashtra is known as the land of saints. This tradition has been passed down since ancient times, representing the true identity of Maharashtra’s culture. Through works like the Dnyaneshwari, Changdev Pasashti, Haripath, Abhangas, and Virahini, these saints awakened the light of wisdom in people’s hearts. He described Maharashtra not just as a piece of land but as “the land of saints” — where every grain of soil chants the Lord’s name, where every breeze carries the sound of Vitthal, and where every river sings the lullaby of Sant Dnyaneshwar.
Bhujbal further emphasized that the teachings of the saints are against all forms of discrimination.
From Namdev to Tukaram, many saints have contributed to rooting the philosophy of the Warkari tradition.
The Warkari tradition is not limited to any caste or class. Its doors are open to all, regardless of caste, sect, gender, or social status. As Sant Chokhamela said,
"Though born in a low caste, Vitthal does not see me differently; by His grace, I find refuge in Pandharpur."
Minister Bhujbal acknowledged the timely decision of Deputy Chief Minister and then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to provide financial aid to each Wari procession, praising Shinde’s swift action.
He also highlighted the role of many saints such as Tukaram, Namdev, Savata Mali, Gora Kumbhar, Chokhamela, Narhari Sonar, Janabai, Muktabai, Sopandev, Nivruttinath, Mirabai, Muktai, and Soyarabai in nurturing Maharashtra’s spiritual and social traditions. The government assures that it will always stand with the Warkari community and support their endeavors, he concluded.
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