MAHARASHTRA Government will send a proposal to United Nations agency UNESCO for world heritage nomination for the annual Pandharpur ‘wari’ (pilgrimage) which has a tradition of 1,000 years, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar told the Legislative Assembly on Friday. He said the Government will also set up 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 the Vitthal-Rukmini temple in Pandharpur in Solapur district.

 

Making the announcement during his Budget speech, Pawar, who holds the Finance and Planning Department, said the corporation, Mukhyamantri Warkari Sampradaya Mahamandal, will be established 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 250km palkhi (palanquin) route. The Deputy CM said devotees from all over the State assemble to bow before Lord Vitthal. Palkhi (palanquin) of Sant Tukaram departed from Dehu on Friday, while the palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar will leave Alandi on Saturday. These palkhis carry ‘padukas’ (holy footprints) of the revered saints.