Symbiosis provides free medical aid to warkaris

Pune: City municipal commissioner Kunal Kumar inaugurated the mobile medical units meant for warkaris (pilgrims) on Wednesday at Vishwabhavan, Symbiosis.

Pune will witness Maharashtra’s biggest annual pilgrimage on Wednesday. This is an 800 years old tradition. Pilgrims who are also called as Warkari come from all over Maharashtra and walk in groups called ‘Dindi’. The entire journey of the pilgrims from Dehu and Alandi to Pandharpur is made in honour of the two saints and is called wari. The warkaris carry along with them the silver ‘paduka’ (footprint) of the saints to Pandharpur where they offer their prayer to lord Vitthal.

Each year, Symbiosis Centre of Health Care (SCHC) and Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS) in association with Mrs. Sheela Raj Salve Memorial Trust, arranges four mobile medical units during palkhi procession (annual pilgrimage) of Saint Dnyaneshwar and Saint Tukaram offering free medical services by emergency medical practitioners to warkaris in the palkhi.

S B Mujumdar, president and founder of Symbiosis while addressing the gathering said, “Since last 17 years this effort has been undertaken jointly by Symbiosis and Salve Foundation and it has proven to be fruitful. Each year, more than 1000 warkaris have benefited through the provision of free medical aid provided by us.”

Kumar praised the efforts put in by the medical team for the warkaris.Other dignitaries present at the ceremony included Vidya Yeravdekar, principal director, Symbiosis, Dr Rajiv Yeravdekar, dean, faculty of health & biomedical sciences, Symbiosis and Avinash Salve, ex-cCorporator PMC.

On July 1, Vidya Yeravdekar, Dr Rajiv Yeravdekar along with the teaching & non-teaching staff members of faculty of health & biomedical sciences will join the walk with the warkaris on a stretch of nearly 20 kilometers.