The renowned dabbawalas of Mumbai will temporarily pause their well-known lunchbox delivery service on Monday, July 7, 2025, in order to participate in the yearly Ashadhi Ekadashi pilgrimage, which is a custom that has great spiritual significance for them.
As many of their members travel to Pandharpur to participate in the revered Wari procession, the Mumbai Dabbawala Association has declared that their services will be suspended for the day.
Thousands of devotees, known as Warkaris, walk for days with unwavering devotion each year as they make the pilgrimage to Pandharpur. On the holy day of Ashadhi Ekadashi, the pilgrimage culminates at the Vitthal-Rukmini temple, where saints such as Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar are honoured.
The dabbawalas view this as a journey of faith, both individually and collectively, rather than merely a religious rite. An official from the Mumbai Dabbawala Association told Mid Day, "Wari is a part of who we are. It enables us to rediscover our principles, our heritage, and our sense of belonging. Because of this, many of us walk to Pandharpur each year, and on July 7, we will interrupt our services to participate in this pilgrimage."
The dabbawalas, who are renowned worldwide for their unparalleled accuracy and timeliness, provide daily home-cooked meals to thousands of Mumbai office workers. Once a year, however, their religious devotion comes first.
Since services will resume as usual the following day, Mumbai residents are urged to plan alternative lunches for July 7.
Ashadhi Ekadashi represents community, equality, and devotion and is more than just a date on the calendar. Additionally, it's a time for the dabbawalas to walk together for worship rather than work.
