Pilgrims walk to Pandharpur with the Indian Constitution as their holy book

Warkaris arrive at the holy site along the Bhima river on the occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi every year, to offer prayers to Lord Vitthal. The objective of the dindi, or group, is to preach the salient features of the constitution among the 10-lakh pilgrims that make the 16-day long walk originating from Alandi and Dehu

Mumbai: Over the last five years, on their way to Pandharpur at this time of the year, warkaris (pilgrims) have witnessed street plays and participated in discourses on the Indian constitution, thanks to the efforts of 15 NGOs from across the state, titled Samvidhan Samata Dindi. The objective of the dindi, or group, is to preach the salient features of the constitution among the 10-lakh pilgrims that make the 16-day long walk originating from Alandi and Dehu.

Pilgrims walk to Pandharpur with the Indian Constitution as their holy book

Warkaris arrive at the holy site along the Bhima river on the occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi every year, to offer prayers to Lord Vitthal.

The Samvidhan Samata Dindi, or Constitution Equality Rally, believes the principles laid out in the constitution are in many ways an extension of the teachings of Maharashtra’s saints – both rooted in the idea of equality. Therefore, it was wise to combine saintly literature and the constitution. While some members of NGOs start their walk from Pune, others join in along the way. Over 300 members participate in the journey.

The ‘Samvidhan pracharak’ or promoters of the constitution have a clear message: ‘We are warkari, we are constitution’. “Participants in this wari disseminate the tenets of the constitution through various forms of art, including kirtans. They make people aware of their rights,” said Nagesh Jadhav, a member of the Samvidhan Samata Dindi.

This year, the dindi was headed by Dyaneshwar Bandgar, a 24-year-old biotechnology graduate. Bandgar’s maternal grandfather was a kirtankar from Ghardi, a village near Solapur. Bhandgar, who has been singing kirtans since he was an eight-year-old, is carrying forward the family legacy. “I have participated in the wari for many years. I usually lead from our ‘Gharadi Phad’ and this year a campaign to learn the constitution was included in our group. I realized the teachings of both are similar. We studied many aspects of the constitution which we sang as kirtans,” said Bandgar. He added that Kirtankar Shyamsunder Sonar, well-known in the community, had joined the NGO members a few years ago. Bandgar was inspired by him.

“Many activists committed to the constitutional values – liberty, equality, fraternity and justice – found it easy to participate in the wari,” said Kunal Ramteke, member of Coro India and part of the Samvidhan Samata Dindi. “Our motto is to familiarize warkaris and villagers nearby about the constitution and get them to discuss it further,” Ramteke added.