Ashadhi Ekadashi 2025: Doctors’ Dindi Begins Journey To Aid Walking Pilgrims On Wari

As pilgrims start their annual trek, or dindi, to Pandharpur's Vitthal temple for Ashadhi Ekadashi on July 6, a large group of medical professionals left Mumbai on Sunday morning as part of the 'Doctor Dindi'.

The ‘Doctor Dindi’, which is in its 33rd year, will provide medical services to pilgrims on the Alandi-Pandharpur route. The group, carrying a palkhi or palanquin with the padukas, or footwear, of spiritual guru Swami Samarth Maharaj, started their journey from the Swami Samarth Maharaj Math, Dadar, to join other groups of pilgrims at Alandi, near Pune, on June 13. From there, the pilgrims, called Varkaris after ‘wari’ or pilgrimage, will walk to the shrine of Vithal, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Different groups of pilgrims carry relics associated with various saints in palkhis to Pandharpur.

The tradition is believed to be 700-800 years old and commemorates a pilgrimage from the days of Sant Dnyaneshwar, a saint, poet, and philosopher of the Bhakti religious tradition who lived in the 13th century. The saint's father is believed to have started the tradition. Another route taken by pilgrims is from Dehu, near Pune, to Pandharpur. Ashadi Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the Shukla Paksha or the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashadh (June-July). The day is also called Shayani Ekadashi as Vishnu starts his cosmic sleep on the day, the beginning of Chaturmas, the four holy months that coincides with the rainy season.

The ‘Doctor Dindi’, organised by Mauli Charitable and Medical Trust, started by a couple of doctors, now a team of hundreds of doctors who take turns to accompany the thousands of pilgrims who walk along an adverse terrain in rainy weather. The doctors manage eight state-of-the-art ambulances that can provide first aid and take unwell pilgrims to hospitals on the route, said Dr Suresh Bhat, one of the members of the group.  

Apart from medical services, the group also serves food to pilgrims as annadan. Nearly one lakh warkaris take benefit of the mahaprasad or annadan at stops on the journey, Jejuri, Malshiras, Velapur, Vakhari and Pandharpur. Arvind Bhosale, trustee of Mauli Charitable and Medical Trust, said they have been involved in social, medical, and religious activities since 1993. “We also organise free medical camps and awareness camps about breast cancer, HIV, and child health care,” said Bhosale.

During such a camp at Talasari, a tribal area in Palghar district, 18 cases of leprosy were detected and reported to the government medical department for treatment. The group also organised medical camps in Mahakumbh-Mela at Prayagraj in the year 2000, 2012 and 2025 and at Trimbakeshwar, Nasik in 2000, and 2015. The organisation has been involved in the programme to provide ‘Jaipur Foot’, calipers and crutches, to physically handicapped persons.