Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will send a proposal to the United Nations agency UNESCO for nomination as world heritage site of the annual Pandharpur 'wari' (pilgrimage), which has a 1,000-year-old tradition, the government said on Friday. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to the legislative assembly.
He said the government will also create a separate corporation to provide facilities to devotees of Lord Vitthal (called warkaris), who undertake the annual pilgrimage from Alandi and Dehu in Pune district to Vitthal-Rukmini temple at Pandharpur in Solapur district. .
Making the announcement during his budget speech, Pawar, who heads the finance and planning department, said the corporation, Mukhyamantri Warkari Sampradaya Mahamandal, will be set up to provide facilities to warkaris, kirtankars (those who sing in praise of deities ), bhajani mandals (groups of devotional singers), as well as to manage the 250 kilometer palkhi (palanquin) route.
The deputy CM said devotees from across the state gather to bow before Lord Vitthal.
. Palkhi (palanquin) of Sant Tukaram left Dehu on Friday, while the palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar will leave Alandi on Saturday.
These palkhis carry 'padukas' (sacred footprints) of the revered saints.
"This government is aware that the umbilical cord of Maharashtra is connected with this wari (pilgrimage) which has a tradition of 1,000 years. Therefore, we are submitting a proposal to UNESCO for world heritage nomination of the Pandharpur wari, which is globally recognized as the identity of Maharashtra," Pawar said.
Acceptance of the nomination will grant cultural heritage status to the annual pilgrimage.
Pawar said the government has decided to provide a sum of Rs 20,000 per 'dindi' (group of devotees) for the pilgrimage from this year. An allocation of Rs 36.71 crore has been made for this in the budget.
Health checks of devotees will be carried out on all routes from Dehu-Alandi to Pandharpur through the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Cell and free medicines will be provided to them as per their needs, he added.
He said the government will also create a separate corporation to provide facilities to devotees of Lord Vitthal (called warkaris), who undertake the annual pilgrimage from Alandi and Dehu in Pune district to Vitthal-Rukmini temple at Pandharpur in Solapur district. .
Making the announcement during his budget speech, Pawar, who heads the finance and planning department, said the corporation, Mukhyamantri Warkari Sampradaya Mahamandal, will be set up to provide facilities to warkaris, kirtankars (those who sing in praise of deities ), bhajani mandals (groups of devotional singers), as well as to manage the 250 kilometer palkhi (palanquin) route.
The deputy CM said devotees from across the state gather to bow before Lord Vitthal.
. Palkhi (palanquin) of Sant Tukaram left Dehu on Friday, while the palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar will leave Alandi on Saturday.
These palkhis carry 'padukas' (sacred footprints) of the revered saints.
"This government is aware that the umbilical cord of Maharashtra is connected with this wari (pilgrimage) which has a tradition of 1,000 years. Therefore, we are submitting a proposal to UNESCO for world heritage nomination of the Pandharpur wari, which is globally recognized as the identity of Maharashtra," Pawar said.
Acceptance of the nomination will grant cultural heritage status to the annual pilgrimage.
Pawar said the government has decided to provide a sum of Rs 20,000 per 'dindi' (group of devotees) for the pilgrimage from this year. An allocation of Rs 36.71 crore has been made for this in the budget.
Health checks of devotees will be carried out on all routes from Dehu-Alandi to Pandharpur through the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Cell and free medicines will be provided to them as per their needs, he added.
