Pandharpur yatra

Sapota is not aware of all terms and is not very well aware of technical(or rather religious) terminology about this pilgrimage, so please forgive Sapota for innocence.

Since the year Sapota has arrived in this holy city of Pune(punya nagaree meaning pious city), Sopata has been witnessing a swarm of people moving on the road connecting his college to civilization. Sapota was hardly aware of anything as to what it is, and was just hearing outcries of people complaining about transportation. Anyway as soon as Sapota left college and came to his current place of residence, Sapota realized that this swarm is a constant fixture in the months of monsoon on this particular road called as Alandi Road.
As Sapota observed a huge number of people are coming from a place called as Pandharpur, which is some small town(or may be village), somewhere in Maharastra. These people(called warakaris by locals here) come all the way on feet from a long distance to see this temple in Alandi.
Last year it was raining very heavily and still the amount of pilgrims were same or may be more than the year previous. You can see people coming by all means trucks, jeeps, buses, vans and mostly on feet. They have a kind of enthusiasm and most of them are not sufficient literate, but still they are so devoted, that they hardly care for facilities or any obstacle. They have nothing in mind, no self interest, but they are here to have just a glimpse of the Lord. Even if they have some small wishes from lord, they are so meager in front of faith, they have.
Pune as Sapota witness, has been very hospitable to these pilgrims unlike any other highly urbanized city. You can see stalls every where packed with foods and water and such small articles of requirements and Municipal buses from all parts of city leaving towards Alandi and all the roads and traffic on the Alandi road is diverted . Its a belief that even servicing devotees of god is as good as servicing god himself.
These people seems so much free and relaxed, having no worries, Sopata himself have seen many religious places, but there is something about these people, which makes sapota consider their faith as highest. This pligrimage is unlike all those commercialized pligrimage, just pure devotion. I see everywhere people singing and lost in the name of lord, just flowing with the flow. One just feels wave of joy and happiness surround the entire atmosphere .