For the past 15 years, 40-year-old Adil Sheikh who owns a medical store in Sasanenagar at Hadapsar has serving the pilgrims going to Pandharpur. After closing down the shutters of his shop, the devout Muslim distributes basic medicines to travelling pilgrims.
“I feel that humanity and working for the sake of mankind is above all religion. I admire the fact that warkaris walk all the way for their devotion which is why I distribute medicines every year.”
Adil isn’t alone. Along the entire stretch of Hadapsar, many people were seen helping the pilgrims at their last stop in Pune on their way to Pandharpur. In a effort to keep the tradition alive, many brought their children along and were seen distributing packets of water, biscuits and laddoos to pilgrims.
Many working professionals had taken leave from their office to offer service to warkaris.
HDFC Bank marketing manager Rupesh Gaikwad (35) said, “I feel privileged that I am able to offer service to warkaris. At least in this manner, I feel like I have done some good and can gain some virtue.”
Many city NGOs had stationed teams of doctors and ambulances ready to help warkaris. One of them, NGO Savali Foundation had kept a team of 15 doctors who were checking warkaris complaining of body ache, flu and viral infections. All those who came for check-ups were provided with adequate medicines.
The foundation president Yogesh Sasane said, “For the past two years, we are holding the medical camp wherein we do medical check-ups and provide medicines to warkaris for free.”
Traffic update
Till late afternoon, incoming traffic towards Hadapsar was diverted affecting movement of PMPML buses as well vehicles using the Saswad highway. BPO employees got point pick-ups from their companies while some who could not take office cabs took a day off from their work.
Praveen Javade, assistant police inspector (traffic) of Deccan division managing the traffic at Hadapsar said, “Traffic had been diverted from Ghorpadi and Mundhwa. We had stopped the traffic from Bhairoba nala coming towards Hadapsar. Traffic restrictions were lifted only after warkaris moved beyond Gadital.”
ZP provides medical assistance to warkaris
As the Pandharpurchi wari leaves the city, Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) has ensured a healthy journey for the pilgrims by providing a medical kit as well as 84 medical squads to accompany them.
Five doctors and 34 other staffs would accompany the wari till Pandharpur.
ZP president Dattatray Bharane and chief executive officer (CEO) Anil Kavde informed the media that medical kits are distributed among the dindi leaders. Kits will have paracetamols, cetrizine, diclofene and ammoxycillin, which are generally required for cough, cold, dysentery etc.
Kavde said, “One squad would accompany the wari till Pandharpur. It would have five doctors and other 34 ZP employees.” He informed that a total of 84 medical squads would accompany the wari which will have one doctor, one medical assistant, one pharmacologist and one assistant.
“Medical workers would be posted at every two kilometres,” he said He informed that the Pune ZP has allocated Rs10 lakh to provide medical assistance to the pilgrims.
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