As thousands of devotees (Warkaris) trek toward the holy town of Pandharpur to celebrate Ashadhi Ekadashi, Nagpur is gearing up to host its own massive celebration of the Warkari tradition. On Saturday, July 18, over 3,000 students representing nearly 50 local schools will march through the city in a grand ‘Warkari Dindi’ procession.
The cultural initiative is being jointly organized by Nutan Bharat Vidyalaya and Junior College (Abhyankar Nagar), the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), the Secondary Education Department of the Zilla Parishad, the Marathi Bhasha Gyan Samvardhan Pratishthan, and the Siddhivinayak Seva Trust. The event aims to introduce the younger generation to Maharashtra’s rich spiritual heritage, cultural identity, and historic values.
Event Route and Schedule
The devotional procession is designed to immerse the city in traditional spiritual fervor, winding through key locations in Nagpur:
Commencement: The Dindi will kick off at 8:00 AM from the Savarkar Statue in Shankar Nagar.
The Rituals: The event will open with a ceremonial worship (pooja) of Lord Vitthal and Goddess Rukmini.
The Procession: Students will march to the rhythmic beats of taal (cymbals) and mridang (drums) while chanting traditional devotional hymns.
Culmination: The march will conclude with a grand aarti at the Dnyaneshwar Temple in Bajaj Nagar.
Community Feast: A Mahaprasad has been organized on the school premises of Nutan Bharat Vidyalaya starting at 10:30 AM.
Dignitaries to Grace the Event
The grand flag-off ceremony will be led by Maharashtra Revenue and Nagpur District Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, with Nagpur Mayor Nita Thakre presiding over the main program.
A host of prominent local administrative and political dignitaries will also attend the event, including:
MLAs & Public Representatives: Abhijit Wanjari, Sanjay Bhende, former MLA Sandeep Joshi, and NMC Standing Committee Chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare.
Administrative Chiefs: Municipal Commissioner Vipin Itankar, Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil, and Zilla Parishad CEO Vinayak Mahamuni.
Education & Cultural Leaders: Deputy Director of Education Madhuri Savarkar, Secondary Education Officer Anil Dahiphale, and Ravindra Katolkar, President of the Marathi Bhasha Gyan Samvardhan Pratishthan.
In a joint statement, Nutan Bharat Vidyalaya and Junior College Secretary Ramesh Bakshi and Principal Dr. Vandana Badwaik urged school principals, teachers, students, and local citizens to join the procession in large numbers to experience the essence of the state’s glorious Warkari heritage.
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