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Title: JOY IN DEVOTION TO GOD
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Category: Alaskan Life
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Description: ¬“JOY IN DEVOTION TO GOD” Immersed in devotion to God, the highest point of happiness is reached The conglomeration of many Varkari is conventionally called Dindi. They make group to go on Vari in which they enjoy music and dance to express the feeling of devotion to Lord Vitthal. In the Marathi month of Ashadh shukla ekadashi many such Dindis come from almost every village, town and city of the Maharashtra to Pandharpur to visit the Lord Pandurang and express their devotion to him. Dindis strictly follow the pattern of walking only to come to meet the Lord in Pandharpur that is why they take fifteen to twenty days to reach in Pandharpur. It becomes a kind of spiritual celebration all over Maharashtra. This tradition of Vari and Dindi is quite old. Father of Saint Dnyaneshvar used to go on Vari pilgrimage. In ancient time public transport system was not available, so groups of people used to go to Pandharpur by walking. However, a proper disciplining of Vari pilgrimage was brought about by Haibatbaba Araphalkar, a knight of Shinde dynasty of Gwalior. He started the tradition of taking the paduka (sleepers) of Saint Dnyaneshvar to Pandharpur along with Dindi. Saint Tukaram was also a Varkari. His son is known to have started the tradition of taking paduka of Saint Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram to Pandharpur in Dindi around AD 1685. These are two major traditions of Vari and Dindi.
