Happy Ashadi Kartiki!!!
As most of you already know, today is Ashadi Kartiki. It's a HUGE festival in Maharastra and we worship Vitthala, the incarnation of Vishnu/Krishna on that day. Thousands of devotees travel by foot from nearby villages to flock to the temple at Pandharpur. That is the Pandharpur Yatra. Those that can't do that of course still arrive by trains and cars. The celebrations at the Pandhari are so great that you really have to be there to truly get an idea of it. There's this line from Vitthala's arti that says "Dindya Pataka Vaishnava Nachati, Pandhariche Mahima Varnava Kiti." That roughly translates into: all the devotees are dancing while waving the dindi and pataka, which are saffron colored flags, in the air. How am I supposed to explain the greatness of Pandharpur?
Truly there is a lot of hub bub going on today in that city.
Here are some pics taken of the celebration. Got these off of Google.
The Yatra
They usually start a week in advance since no person can walk all the way from say, Dehu, to Pandharpur. Btw, Dehu is where Sant Tukaram was from.
Devotees take bath in the river Chandrabhaga.
And here is the arati by Suresh Wadkar. Had this memorized since I was a kid.
Also, since I couldn't find pics, you may want to see this vid because it shows some of the celebrations in the streets of Pandharpur.
Yuge Athavis Vite Wari Ubha
Vamangi Rakhumayi Dise Divya Shobha
Pundalikache Bheti Parbrahma Alega
Charani Vahe Bheema Udhari Jaga
Jai Dev, Jai Dev, Jai Panduranga
Rakhumayi Vallabha Raichya Vallabha Paave Jivalaga
Jai Dev, Jai Dev
Tulasi Mala Gala Kar Thevuni Kati
Kase Pitambar Kastur Lalathi
Dev Survar Nitya Yeti Bheti
Garud Hanumant Pudhe Ubhe Rahiti
Jai Dev, Jai Dev, Jai Panduranga
Rakhumayi Vallabha Raichya Vallabha Paave Jivalaga
Jai Dev, Jai Dev
Dhanya Venunad Anukshetra Pala
Suvarnache Kamale Vanmala Gala
Rai Rakhumabayi Raniya Sakala
Ovaliti Raja Vithoba Savala
Jai Dev, Jai Dev, Jai Panduranga
Rakhumayi Vallabha Raichya Vallabha Paave Jivalaga
Jai Dev, Jai Dev
Ovalu Artya Kuravandya Yeti
Chandrabhagemachi Soduniya Deti
Dindya Pataka Vaishnava Nachati
Pandhariche Mahima Varnava Kiti
Jai Dev, Jai Dev, Jai Panduranga
Rakhumayi Vallabha Raichya Vallabha Paave Jivalaga
Jai Dev, Jai Dev
Ashadi Kartiki Bhaktjan Yeti, Ho Sadhujan Yeti
Chandrabhagemadhe Snane Je Kariti
Darshan Hela Matre Taya Hoye Mukti
Keshavasi Naamdev Bhaave Ovaliti
Jai Dev, Jai Dev, Jai Panduranga
Rakhumayi Vallabha Raichya Vallabha Paave Jivalaga
Jai Dev, Jai Dev
Anupamaa
Veer Hanuman
Parineeti
