Every year, as the monsoon sweeps across the western Indian state of Maharashtra, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims set out on foot for one of the world's oldest and largest annual pilgrimages—the Ashadhi Wari. For more than 700 years, devotees known as Warkaris have walked to the temple town of Pandharpur, the religious capital of Maharashtra, to seek the blessings of Lord Vitthal, a revered form of Vishnu and Krishna.
More than a religious procession, the Wari is a living tradition rooted in devotion, equality and community. Pilgrims from every corner of Maharashtra, regardless of caste, profession or social background, walk together, sharing food, singing devotional hymns and serving one another along the journey. Every year, the Varkaris perform the Waari in the Maharashtrian month of Ashadha, concluding on Ekadashi during the waxing phase of the moon.
The word Wari refers to a pilgrimage undertaken at regular intervals, particularly a recurring journey made in devotion to a deity. Over the centuries, this annual walk to Pandharpur has evolved into one of India's most enduring expressions of collective faith.
At the heart of the Wari are the sacred palkhis (palanquins) of two of Maharashtra's revered poet-saints, Sant Dnyaneshwar from Alandi and Sant Tukaram from Dehu. Rather than carrying statues, these palkhis enshrine the saints' padukas, their symbolic silver footprints representing their eternal spiritual presence. As the palkhis travel towards Pandharpur, they are joined by lakhs of devotees walking in organised groups known as dindis.
One of the pilgrimage's most cherished traditions is the Ringan—a ceremonial run by a horse associated with the saint's palkhi. Warkaris believe the horse embodies the saint's divine presence, and the dust stirred up during the ritual is considered sacred. Devotees gather to witness the spectacle, often bowing to touch the soil as an act of reverence.
Throughout the journey, the roads resonate with the sounds of abhangs, which are devotional verses composed by saints such as Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram and Namdev centuries ago. Accompanied by cymbals and the mridang drum, these hymns transform the pilgrimage into a moving celebration of faith, music and shared humanity.
The Warkari is a sect within the bhakti spiritual tradition of Hinduism, primarily linked to the Indian state of Maharashtra. Anyone who undertakes this pilgrimage is known as a Warkari. Walking for nearly three weeks, they chant the name of Vitthal, sing abhangs and participate in traditional practices such as kirtans (devotional discourses), bhajans (hymns), fugdi folk dances and the Ringan. Together, these rituals create an atmosphere of profound spirituality and collective joy.
The twin palkhis from Dehu and Alandi ultimately converge in Pandharpur, home to the iconic Vitthal-Rukmini Temple. Here, Lord Vitthal, depicted standing on a brick with his hands on his hips, patiently awaiting his devotees, has come to embody Maharashtra's Bhakti tradition, a centuries-old movement that champions humility, compassion, equality and unwavering devotion.