Pandharpur Palkhi, Not only Two but 43 Palkhi Yatras enroute Pandharpur in Ashadi Waari

43 Revered Palkhis of Pandharpur

While the main Ashadhi Vari pilgrimages from Dehu and Alandi are the most famous, around 43 other traditional Palkhis (palanquins) march to Pandharpur from various locations in Maharashtra. The most prominent alternative Palkhis include:

1. Sant Eknath Maharaj Palkhi (Paithan to Pandharpur)

Origin: Saint Eknath Maharaj Temple, Paithan (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district).

Significance: This is the only major Palkhi that begins in the Marathwada region and features an unbroken 400-year-old tradition. The entourage walks over 300 km to Pandharpur.

2. Sant Sopankaka Palkhi (Saswad to Pandharpur)

Origin: Deulwada, Saswad (Pune district).

Significance: Sant Sopankaka was the younger brother of Sant Dnyaneshwar. The Palkhi starts a few days after Alandi’s procession, gathering over 100 Dindis (devotional groups), and travels via Morgaon, Jeur, and Baramati to Pandharpur.

3. Sant Nivrutti Nath Maharaj Palkhi (Trimbakeshwar to Pandharpur)

Origin: Trimbakeshwar (Nashik district).Significance: Sant Nivrutti Nath was the elder brother and spiritual guru of Sant Dnyaneshwar. Pilgrims carry out a gruelling 355 km trek over 25 days, passing through Ahmednagar before reaching Pandhari.

4. Sant Muktabai Palkhi (Muktainagar to Pandharpur)

Origin: Muktainagar (Jalgaon district).Significance: Commemorating Muktabai, the sister of Dnyaneshwar, this Palkhi covers the longest distance of all processions, traversing from the Khandesh region down to Pandharpur.These pilgrimages follow highly specific, time-tested itineraries and eventually converge with the main processions at key junctions like Wakhri before reaching the Vitthal Temple in Pandharpur.

Apart from the two massive processions of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram, around 41 other major traditional Palkhis march strictly on foot to Pandharpur for the Ashadhi Wari. They originate from different corners of Maharashtra and neighboring states, carrying the padukas (sacred footprints) of revered saints:

• • Sant Nivruttinath Maharaj Palkhi: Starts from Trimbakeshwar (Nashik). He was the elder brother and spiritual guru of Dnyaneshwar.
  • Sant Sopankaka Maharaj Palkhi: Starts from Saswad (Pune). He was the younger brother of Dnyaneshwar.
  • Sant Muktabai Palkhi: Starts from Muktainagar (Jalgaon). She was the younger sister of Dnyaneshwar, and this Palkhi covers one of the longest distances from North Maharashtra.

• • Sant Eknath Maharaj Palkhi: Starts from Paithan (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar). A historic 400-year-old traditional route from the Marathwada region.
  • Sant Namdev Maharaj Palkhi: Starts from Pandharpur itself or Narsi Namdev (Hingoli). Sant Namdev was instrumental in spreading the Warkari philosophy.
  • Sant Chokhamela Palkhi: Starts from Mangalwedha (Solapur), commemorating the historic Dalit saint-poet of the Warkari movement.
  • Sant Janabai Palkhi: Starts from Gangakhed (Parbhani), honoring the prominent woman saint who was a close disciple of Sant Namdev.
  • Sant Goroba Kaka Palkhi: Starts from Ter (Dharashiv/Osmanabad). He was the saint-potter whose verses are highly revered.
  • Sant Savata Mali Palkhi: Starts from Aran (Solapur). He famously looked for God within his daily farming and gardening work.
  • Sant Nilobaraya Palkhi: Starts from Piparner/Ahmednagar. Nilobaraya is considered the ultimate disciple in the lineage of Sant Tukaram.