PUNE, July 3, 2013: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has made various arrangements for the warkaris going to Pandharpur in the Palakhiprocession, via Pune. The palkis of saints Dnyaneshwar and Tukaramleft for their next destination Saswad after a halt in Pune on Wednesday. 

The civic body will provide medical as well as sanitation facilities. The PMC gave free medical service such as ambulance, first aid and medicines. The sanitation department provided mobile toilets for the pilgrims at various places in the city. 

Arrangements for overnight accommodation for the warkaris were also made. PMC had opened its schools for the stay of pilgrims. The disaster management cell and fire department were asked to stay on alert to meet any emergency. 

Along with these arrangements PMC had also stationed water tankers and changed the timetable of water supply so that warkaris do not face any hardships during their stay in the city. 

The city was awash in the bright colours of the annual Pandharpur yatra from Monday as a sea of warkaris (pilgrims) walked through its streets, accompanying the palkhis as part of their 240-kilometre pilgrimage to the abode of their revered God, Vitthal. 

According to estimates, more than six lakh warkaris from all over the state as well as from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are participating in the pilgrimage this year. On Monday, over three lakh warkaris passed through the city, en route to Pandharpur along with the two palkhis. 
 

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 3, 2013.