Pandharpur Wari, a centuries-old pilgrimage, and Ashadhi Ekadashi, a sacred day in the Hindu Panchang, are deeply embedded in Maharashtra’s spiritual and cultural fabric. These traditions celebrate devotion, community, and the unyielding faith of the Varkari sect. Every year, millions of devotees embark on a journey to Pandharpur, the abode of Bhagwan Vithoba, also known as Vitthala or Panduranga, to participate in this grand pilgrimage and observe Ashadhi Ekadashi.
Christian Evangelicals caught distributing Bible pamphlets
This centuries old pilgrimage is now under attack by the Christian conversion mafia. An alert warkari belonging to Hindu organization Shivpratishthan caught a Christian woman distributing pamphlets with verses from the Bible. The conversion attempt was smartly disguised as a call to deaddiction, with mobile numbers given for the same in the pamphlets that were in Marathi (English translation from Google Translate shared above). The incident occured in Pune’s Fatimanagar.
As the video went viral, Hindu Rashtra Samanvay Samiti registered a police complaint against the evangelist attempting to disrupt the wari and lure Hindus through fake promises and the like. Dattatray Maharaj Chorge, Secretary of the Chintamani Prasadik Dindi, lodged the complaint on 22 June with the Vanwadi Police Station. Hindu Rashtra Samanvay Samiti’s Sachin Ghule, Hindu Janjagruti Samiti’s Shubham Donawade and Shashank Sonawane and Hindu Dharmpremi’s Shivraj Donawade were also present.
The Christian Evangelists were stationed on the Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dynaneshwar Maharaj Wari route. At Pune’s Fatimanagar they were handing over pamphlets to both the Warkaris and Hindu devotees who had come to see the Dindis. The pamphlets spoke about how addiction ruined families and asked people to contact certain mobile numbers if they wanted to be addiction free. However, the catch here is that the pamphles spoke about Jesus as the saviour. If they intended people to get out of addiction, then what was the need to include Bible verses and call for praying to Jesus? This is how these evangelists deceive Hindus.
Furthermore, why distribute these pamphlets to Warkaris who have been doing Bhakti of Bhagwan Vitthal? The conversion agenda is extremely clear from this. This is a deliberate attempt to hurt Hindu sentiments by targeting our holy pilgrimages. Moreover, it is a punishable offence under both the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Maharashtra Anti-conversion Law 2023.
In its complaint, the Hindu Rashtra Samanvay Samiti has demanded that a case should be registered against the evangelists under Section 295 A (Hurting religious sentiments), Section 153 A (Spreading religious hatred), Section 298 (Statements regarding religion with derogatory intent) Section 505 (2) (Creating enmity between religious communities), and Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2023 for the attempt to convert to another religion through fraud, coercion.
A case should be registered against the culprits immediately and strict action must be initiated against them. Additionally, the mobile numbers must be used to trace the entire network and bring them to justice. Moreover, the wari route must be kept free of such conversion mafia elements. The Mahayuti sarkar must step in and stop this subversion and deliberate trampling of Hindu sentiments.
Historical Background of Pandharpur Wari
The roots of Pandharpur Wari trace back over 800 years, making it one of the oldest and most significant pilgrimages in Bharat. The pilgrimage commemorates the Sants of Maharashtra, such as Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram, Sant Eknath, and Sant Namdev, who contributed immensely to the Bhakti movement. The Wari, which means pilgrimage in Marathi, involves devotees, known as Varkaris, walking hundreds of kilometres from their hometowns to the temple of Bhagwan Vithoba in Pandharpur.
The tradition is believed to have been initiated by Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram. The palanquins (palkhis) carrying these saints’ padukas (footprints) start from their respective towns, Alandi and Dehu, and proceed towards Pandharpur. Along the way, they are joined by countless devotees, singing abhangas (devotional songs) and chanting the name of Vitthala, creating a spiritual ambience that reverberates through the journey.
