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Journalism of Courage
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Written by Vansh Chauhan and Dhruvi Lunker
As devotees from villages across western Maharashtra and Marathwada walk briskly to follow the Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar palkhis, the city police, district administration and volunteers put in great effort to ensure the processions go smoothly and safely.
Many Pune residents also came forward to offer snacks, meals and refreshments to the warkaris, ensuring their journey is comfortable.
Vinayak Darvatkar, eaking on behalf of Defense Colony, said their stall put up near Wakdewadi where the palkhi procession enters the city, has a legacy of over 80 years.
“This stall is managed by the colony administration, with even the colonel and many youngsters involved in this work,” said Darvatkar. “We serve Warkaris with ‘gud dhani’ because it has a good shelf life, and we want to offer something that lasts on their journey. We distribute almost 5,000 kilos of ‘gud dhani’ among the devotees over a period of five hours. Many Warkaris receive abundant food from the city, but ‘gud dhani’ is a special treat that sustains them longer,” he said.
“Walking with the Sant Tukaram palkhi for the first time has been an amazing experience. I am grateful for the welcoming nature of Pune residents. Their food arrangements and hospitality have made this journey memorable,” said Shivam Jadhav, 16, from Dehu, who joined the pilgrimage through the Pawandham Sanstha.
