Parat Waari -- The return journey of the Palkhees
कन्या सासुर्यासि जाये ।
मागें परतोनी पाहे ॥१॥
तैसें जालें माझ्या जिवा ।
केव्हां भेटसी केशवा
After getting on the feet of Pandurang or taking the darshan of ‘Namdev payari’ or at least darshan of the peak of the temple and returning from Pandharpur, everyone has these feelings. The responsibilities and the job are calling home but leaving the maternal home is always difficult.
After Ashadhi Ekadashi, the Palkhees stay till Guru Pournima. On Guru Pournima there is a special feast called ‘kala’ after which the Palkhees start their return journeys. Parat wari is the return journey of the Pankhees.
Various Palkhees have different routes to reach their homes but for this article, we’ll consider Sant Dnyaneshwar maharaj palkhee’s return journey.
Sant Dnyaneshwar Mauli’s return journey details:
Notes:
There is a Seva sanstha called “Mauli seva mandal, Kalyan – Mofat annadanachi soy” which provides free food to the waarkaris who are with the Sant Dnyaneshwar palkhee on its return journey. They provide this service from Pandharpur to Saswad only.
Nira snan:
On the old bridge of Nira river, at one end Mauli’s ‘Nagara’ stands followed by 50 Talkaris then the main Rath again followed by 50 Talkaris.
The pujaris take down the Padukas towards the river from the Rath.
All other Dindis before the Rath and after the Rath stand on both sides according to their numbers and discipline on the road from Rath to the river.
After the snan is over, the Pujari called ‘Maalak’ first take the Paduka’s to the Talkaris of dindi’s ahead of the Rath for darshan
After Talkaris the padukas are moved towards Malkaris, Flag bearers and then Tulsi bearers in this sequence.
The same sequence is followed for the dindi’s walking after the Rath.
Then the Padukas are kept in the Rath and it starts moving.
This ‘special darshan’ is considered as a special gift for all the Dindi’s who walk with the Palkhee for around a month.
At the last stop just before Alandi, there is a bridge. The Rath stops at the starting of the bridge. The Sansthan committee members come to the Rath and officially welcome Mauli. They perform Mauli’s Aarti and then the Rath slowly enters Alandi and finally enters the temple.
Some other important Palkhees’ return journeys:
Sant Gajanan Maharaj Palkhee: Shri Kshetra Aran via Kurmdas –Shri Kshetra Barshi (Bhagawan) –Shri Kshetra Kunthalgiri –Shri Kshetra Kapildhara – Shahagad – Jalna – Nhava – Sindakhed Raja – Lonar – Mehakar – Khamgaon – Shegaon.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj: Pandharpur - Vakhri - Mahalunge - Wadapuri - Lasurne - Barhanpur - Hingani Wada - Warvand - Kunjirwadi - Pune - Pimpri gaon - Dehu
References:
Paratwari book - Sudhir Mahabal
Shegaon Sansthan website: https://www.gajananmaharaj.org/sgmsenglish/palkhi.htm#:~:text=Return%20journey%20of%20Shree's%20Palkhi,%E2%80%93%20Mehakar%20%E2%80%93%20Khamgaon%20%E2%80%93%20Shegaon.
Tukaram Maharaj Sansthan, Dehu website: https://santtukarammaharajsansthandehu.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/3333.jpeg.webp
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