When is Ashadi Wari this year?

Every year, during the monsoon season, hundreds of thousands of people in Maharashtra leave their homes and begin a 250-kilometre walk. They gather on the roads, singing, playing cymbals, and moving together in highly organised groups. Welcome to the Ashadhi Wari, a massive, 800-year-old walking pilgrimage that transforms the state’s highways into a moving cultural phenomenon.

When is the Ashadhi Wari in 2026?

Ashadhi Ekadashi 2026 falls on 25 July 2026, at the final destination of Pandharpur. The primary processions depart nearly three weeks earlier — on 8 July from Alandi. The devotees reach Pandharpur on 24 July, a day before the main Ekadashi rituals.

What exactly is the Ashadhi Wari?

The Wari is an annual pilgrimage dedicated to Lord Vithoba. Instead of simply visiting a temple, devotees (known as Warkaris) undertake a journey on foot, carrying the padukas (sacred footwear) of revered Maharashtrian saints in silver Palkhis (palanquins).

The Wari is defined by its deep discipline. The Warkaris are divided into registered groups called Dindis. Each group has an assigned number, a designated place in the procession, and dedicated trucks that move ahead to set up food and shelter for the night.

The Shri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Route

To give you an idea of the movement, here is the official 2026 halt schedule for the prominent Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi journeying from Alandi to Pandharpur:

Date (July 2026)	Palkhi Halt Location
8 July	Gandhi Wada, Alandi (Departure at 3:00 PM)
9 July	Bhavani Peth, Pune
10 July	Pune
11 & 12 July	Saswad
13 July	Jejuri
14 July	Walhe
15 July	Lonand
16 July	Taradgav
17 July	Phaltan
18 July	Barad
19 July	Natepute
20 July	Malshiras
21 July	Velapur
22 July	Bhandishegaon
23 July	Wakhari
24 July	Pandharpur
25 July	Ashadhi Ekadashi (Pandharpur)

The Ringans: A visual spectacle

As the Palkhis move towards Pandharpur, the devotees perform a unique ritual called the Ringan. There are two main types: the Gol Ringan (circular) and the Ubha Ringan (straight). During a Ringan, a sacred horse (Mauli’s Ashva), believed to carry the soul of the saint, runs freely through the crowds.

You can witness these powerful, high-energy events at specific points along the route, such as Chandobacha Limba, Velapur, and Wakhari. We don’t go into extensive route details here, but we will share the full day-by-day itinerary with exact timings and specific Ringan locations upon purchase.

The crucial day to capture: The meeting of the Palkhis

If you are a photographer or traveller planning to document the event, there is one specific day you need to capture: the last but one day of the journey.

On 23 July 2026, the eve of reaching Pandharpur, the two very famous Palkhis — the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi and the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi — officially meet at the village of Wakhari. When everything assembles here on this day, there are around 7 lakh (700,000) devotees moving together towards the Pandharpur temple. The scale of this convergence is massive, making it the definitive moment to experience the Wari.

What makes the Ashadhi Wari so unique

• It’s a moving city. Hundreds of thousands of people walk together with a highly coordinated logistics system of mobile kitchens, medical camps, and tents moving alongside them.
• A festival of equality. The pilgrimage is built on a philosophy where caste, class, and wealth do not matter. Everyone walks together, sings together, and eats together.
• A photographer’s dream. The sheer volume of the crowds, the sea of saffron flags, and the high-energy Ringan ceremonies make it visually striking.
• Incredibly disciplined. Despite the massive crowds, the groups move in highly organised formations with strict daily schedules.

Planning your trip with Travebrate

The Ashadhi Wari is a perfect example of what we do at Travebrate. It’s a massive, deeply cultural event that unfolds on moving dates and shifting routes that can be hard to track. We track over 300 festivals so you land in the right place at exactly the right moment, and we tell you the story behind what you’re seeing, so you understand the culture rather than just watch it.

Because the Wari happens in July, it slots well into a wider monsoon journey — pair it with the rain-washed Sahyadri mountains, the ancient caves of Ajanta and Ellora, or a broader Maharashtra route. We plan it around your pace and your interests. We don’t book flights or hotels ourselves — staying independent keeps every suggestion about your experience, never a commission. Our personalised itinerary is a flat USD 100.

Ashadhi Wari · 25 July 2026 (Wakhari meeting on 23 July) · Pandharpur, Maharashtra.