’Serving devotees is serving Lord Vitthal’

“I was told by my parents that serving warkaris is like service rendered to Lord Vitthal. I repair umbrellas for a living. That’s what I can do best for them,” says Tulshiram Salunke who was among 15 people repairing footwear,bags and umbrellas of warkaris free of cost at Wakdewadi where both Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram Palkhis meet.

The Pune union of roadside stall owners (Tapari,Pathari,Hatdagi Panchayat) has been organising ‘Charan Seva’ for warkaris for the last 10 years. Baba Kamble,president of the Panchayat,said,“We came yesterday. There are many like us who,in spite our strong wish,cannot be part of the Wari. For us a glimpse of the palkhi and a chance to serve the devotees is more than enough. We meet our God through devotees.” He added,“Since Saturday more than 5000 warkaris benefited from the Charan Seva and got their footwear,umbrellas and bags repaired.”

Anna Marag,a resident of Ambad from Jalna district,who first went to Alandi and joined the Wari from there,said,“My umbrella broke down due to strong wind near Alandi. I had to stand in queue to get it repaired but it was done finally. Otherwise I knew nothing about Pune and I would have continued with the broken umbrella. They have given my umbrella a stylish handle now.”

Baban Shekhapure,a cobbler in Hadapsar,said,“I have brought along my son to show him the Palkhi. He probably won’t like to get into my business but I know this has taught him a lesson of life that service to people is service to God.”