As the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi halted at Phaltan, Lions from District 3234-D1 offered pilgrims food, water, medical assistance—and a place to pause before the journey continued.
Every year, thousands of Warkaris undertake the pilgrimage from Alandi to Pandharpur in devotion to Lord Pandurang, also worshipped as Vitthal. Walking nearly 250 kilometres over more than two weeks, they travel in organised groups, singing abhangs as they accompany the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi.
By the time the devotees reached Phaltan, they had already walked through several towns and villages on their way to Pandharpur. Phaltan is an important overnight halt, giving pilgrims an opportunity to rest, replenish their supplies and attend to medical needs before setting out again the following morning.
Lions Clubs of Phaltan, along with clubs from Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji, and Satara, District 3234-D1, joined hands to organise two days of service for the visiting Warkaris.
Several days before the pilgrims arrived, members erected a 30-foot by 20-foot covered service station at a strategic point along the route. The station offered drinking water, food and a place to rest. Volunteers also helped them find temples, overnight shelters and other facilities across the city. For those experiencing difficulty with their vision or requiring medical attention, Lions arranged free eye examinations and prescription medicines.
The program began at 11 a.m. on July 17 and continued until 9 p.m. Throughout the day, volunteers distributed bottled water, packaged snacks and bananas to Warkaris moving along the route.
As evening fell, the focus shifted to those settling down for the night. Lions served dinner to approximately 300 pilgrims.
The volunteers returned early the following morning. Service resumed at 5 a.m., in time for pilgrims preparing to leave Phaltan for the next stage of the journey. Hot tea and biscuits offered warmth and refreshment before another long day on foot. The station remained open until 11 a.m.
Across the two days, the clubs provided:
- 700 eye examinations
- 380 prescribed medicines
- 5,000 bottles of drinking water
- 8,000 snack packets
- 1,000 cups of tea with biscuits
- Dinner for approximately 300 pilgrims
For the participating clubs, serving the Warkaris has become an annual tradition. With the support of fellow Lions and volunteers, they hope to continue welcoming pilgrims in the years ahead.
