Supreme Court refuses Warkaris to perform Pilgrimage to Temple in Pandharpur

Shivangi Prakash-

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a suit asking the State of Maharashtra to enable Warkaris of the Sant Namdev Maharaj Sansthan and other factions of the Warkari sect to walk from their homes to the Temple at Pandharpur.

The bench headed by Chief Justice N. V. Ramana was hearing the petition challenging the denial of permission by Maharashtra to carry out the peaceful procession of Dindi which is the assimilation of Warkaris who commence their spiritual journey reciting the Srimad Bhagavad Gita.

The Pandharpur Wari petitioned the Maharashtra Government for permission to allow Warkaris and 250 registered Palkis to perform the yearly pilgrimage to Lord Vithal Temple, despite the Maharashtra Government’s order to only allow 10 ‘Palkis’.

“The State of Maharashtra has allowed 10 ‘palkis’ to travel. They have not chosen 1 which is in Pandharpur, which is the bottom of the temple itself. It is the birthplace of Sant Namdev. Please require my ‘palki’ to be approved“, prayed the advocate appearing for the petitioner.

“You know the pandemic. You know the situation in the country and you want that there should be no restrictions? We cannot do this“, said the Chief Justice, dismissing the petition.

The plea, filed by Advocate Swati Vaibhav and prepared by Advocates Rajsaheb Patil and Shreyas Gacche, claimed that the State Government had discriminated by only allowing a few Warkaris to go to Pandharpur Wari on behalf of everyone.

“The Violation of Article 14, 19(1)(d), 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India. The State of Maharashtra has arbitrarily denied the permission to perform the Wari. The Wari is an age-old tradition. Last year in the wake of Corona Virus the warkaris themselves had not pressed for the Wari. But this year the people are more aware about the disease and shall follow the protocol”

The petition went on to say that the Wari is a well-planned and disciplined ritual in and of itself and that there is no reason to restrict them. It also requested that accommodations be created to allow Warkaris for the Wari as well as Palkhis from all over the country.

Further, directions were sought to be given to the State to keep the temple open for 24 hours for the darshan of Warkaris throughout the country.

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