Group will walk around 30 kms every day: Temple panel president
Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar and his wife Councillor Shraddha Amonkar after flagging off the walking pilgrimage from Sada.
VASCO
Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar on Tuesday flagged off the maiden walking pilgrimage from Sada-Vasco to Pandharpur.
This journey marks the first time that a group of about 100 devotees, known as ‘Varkari’ embarked on a walking pilgrimage from Mormugao taluka to the holy town of Pandharpur.
Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar and Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar were also present when the walking pilgrims began their journey from Vasco.
Shyamsundar Nayak, President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Matta Mandir committee, informed reporters that the group would walk around 30 kms each day.
“The Varkari will move from Sada and halt at Vasco Damodar temple. They will walk 20 kms in the first half and the other 10 kms after lunch, completing their daily routine of 30 kms by 6 pm each day,” said Nayak.
“We have designated 30 points for the Vari and doctor arrangements are also in place for the devotees throughout their journey. Adequate arrangements for food are also in place besides provisions of dropping senior citizens to the next point if they cannot walk on a particular day. This is indeed a tedious journey but worth it, and we pray to Vithal Rakumai for the safe journey of the devotees.”
Speaking to reporters, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar said a group of devotees embarked on a walking pilgrimage from the Brahmaneshwar Temple in Sada.
“They will walk for around 420 kms to reach Pandharpur-Maharashtra on the auspicious day of Ashada Ekadashi,” said Amonkar.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar was present to welcome the varkaris at Damodar Temple in Vasco.
“There are many women and children who are part of this historic walking pilgrimage. The enthusiasm and devotion of participants have set a precedent for future pilgrimages from Mormugao to Pandharpur, marking a new chapter in the spiritual traditions of the region,” said Salkar.
