Warkaris tread a perilous path, sharing road with vehicles

Warkaris tread a perilous path, sharing road with vehicles

Members of the Parsi community came together at the Banaji Atash Behram Hall, Charni Road, on Saturday afternoon for the official launch of the Parsi Shaadi App.

FPJ BureauUpdated: Sunday, July 07, 2019, 01:11 PM IST
article-image

Indapur: There are many obstacles faced by Warkaris once the Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi sets off from Dehu for Pandharpur. Many a time they are delayed in reaching the next stop in the course of their pilgrimage because they are compelled to share the road with vehicles. A descendant of Tukaram Maharaj, Abhijeet More, has urged the government to clear the path for the palkhis. In keeping with the 334-year-old annual ritual, warkaris from across the state come together for Ashadhi Ekadashi celebration at the Vithoba temple in Pandharpur. However, their problem begins from Patas to Tondle-Bondle, where the road is narrow to begin with and has to be shared by both the warkaris on foot and vehicles. This makes it dangerous for pilgrims.

The next hurdle is on the Baramati-Indapur-Akluj route, which is rocky apart from being narrow, with pilgrims and vehicles once again vying for space. Worse still, the Warkaris get ahead on foot, while the trucks carrying their ware are held up. Often, the trucks do not reach in time for the Warkaris to be able to prepare food at the camps. Many a time, they do not get their clothes and other articles of importance on time. The number of Warkaris joining the Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi are increasing every year. On Saturday, there were more than 3.5 lakh devotees. But the roads they travel by remain the same. "We have been asking for improvement of the road for over a decade now. But the government has not heeded our pleas. We want a proper road. The state of the roads matter to this group, which is always on the move," said More.

RECENT STORIES

Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Massive Traffic Congestion, Intense Heat Pose Challenges To Motorists...

Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Massive Traffic Congestion, Intense Heat Pose Challenges To Motorists...

Maharashtra Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 6 Seats Of NCP In Mahayuti Alliance Come With 'Terms &...

Maharashtra Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 6 Seats Of NCP In Mahayuti Alliance Come With 'Terms &...

Mumbai News: MSRDC Announces Toll Hike On Bandra-Worli Sea Link From April 1; Check New Rates Here

Mumbai News: MSRDC Announces Toll Hike On Bandra-Worli Sea Link From April 1; Check New Rates Here

Attention Mumbaikars! Fares Of Shared Cabs To Pune, Nashik & Shirdi Hiked; Check Details Here

Attention Mumbaikars! Fares Of Shared Cabs To Pune, Nashik & Shirdi Hiked; Check Details Here

Mumbai: Sena UBT Lok Sabha Candidate Amol Kirtikar Receives 2nd ED Summon In Khichdi Scam Case;...

Mumbai: Sena UBT Lok Sabha Candidate Amol Kirtikar Receives 2nd ED Summon In Khichdi Scam Case;...