Nagpur, 16 July

(HS): In 2013 the Bombay High Court, while expressing concern over open

defecation and garbage created during the annual ‘Vari’ (Religious procession on

foot), had threatened banning the procession. The religious sentiments were

hurt, but the concern for growing damage to the environment was not wrong. This

was also responsible for spreading infections in many villages. The participants

in the annual Vari was ever growing. By 2026 it is expected to be more than 3

million.

Management Plan and Support

The remarks by

High Court moved an IT Professional and a devotee, Narendra Vaishyampayan, who

started planning for the permanent solution to the issue. The plan was

implemented in two villages on ‘Vari’ route. He conveyed his plan to RSS which

agreed to cooperate, and gradually ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad)

volunteers, health service personnel from Maharashtra University of Health

Sciences (MUHS) joined the project under the banner of ‘Seva Sahayog’ founded

by Vaishyampayan.

Use of Technology

Over 3600 mobile

toilets were provided for the devotees participating in the ‘Vari’. With help

of NEERI (National Environment Engineering Institution), Nagpur, about four

crore litre of sewage and water are processed and converted into fertilizer and

given to farmers. ABVP workers took initiative in managing traffic on the route

for the safety of the devotees and also to prevent inconvenience to the

vehicles. They also served the devotees in providing food and drinking water

free of cost. MUHS health personnel took care of the devotees’ health. They

even performed massage of their legs and feet during their halt.

Seva Sahayog

started changing the condition under the ‘Swacha Bharat’ mission and ensure

cleaniless on the route making it a ‘Nirmal Vari’ by 2017. The roads which were

full of garbage were decorated with Rangoli to welcome the ‘Vari’. Everyday the

ABVP volunteers with other social organisations clean the path and decoate it by

drawing Rangoli.

Government Support

Maharashtra

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also made financial support for providing

basic amenities for the devotees.

What It

Vari

As per the stories

from ancient “Puranas’ a devotee Pundalik prayed for Lord Vishnu to visit his

home appear before him. Satisfied with Pundalik’s faith and prayers Lord

Krishna in the form of Vitthal descended on his door step. Pundalik was serving

his ailing parent and asked Vitthal to wait and offered a brick to rest.

Pleased with his service to parents Vittha decided to stay permanently in

Pandharpur with both hands on his waist.

The story also a

lesson for those who neglect their parents.

Pandharpur on

the banks of Chandrabhaga River in Maharashtra is a symbol of devotion and

dedication.

A large number

of devotees visit the place every year on Ashad Ekadashi (Eleventh day of Ashadh

month’s bright fortnight in Hindu Almanac). It usually falls towards end of June

and beginning of July. The devotees from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa participate

in the event. Every person bows to each other believing him to be Lord Vitthal in

his form.

The procession to

Pandharpur on foot is called ‘Vari’ and the devotees ‘Varkari’. They carry

palanquins of social reformer saints Sant Gyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram etc.

Scientific relevance

The day also

marks beginning of Chaturmas, four months of season during monsoon. During the

four months till Kartik Ekadashi (Oct-Nov). Restriction on food consumption is

followed to prevent infections. Many refrain from eating non-veg food during

the period.

Several

religious events fall during the period, when Yagya and other rituals are performed.

The rituals including performing Yagya are vector repellent, which has been

proved by experiment.

Conclusion

Hindu civilisation

is not a religion, but is a guide to lifestyle in consonance with the nature.

The rituals in different regions differ based on the flora and fauna of that

region.

It survived for

centuries only because of philosophical lessons embedded in its. As it is

related to nature, modern science is gradually accepting it after performing

long experiments in the laboratories.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar