The Maharashtra Tourism Department presented ‘Chala Pandharisi Jaau,’ a cultural programme celebrating the state’s rich Warkari tradition, saint heritage, and religious tourism. Held at Mumbai’s Ravindra Natya Mandir, the event offered audiences an immersive journey into Maharashtra’s devotional culture through music, storytelling, dance, and visual presentations. The programme received an overwhelming response, with attendees filling the auditorium to experience the spirit of the Ashadhi Wari.
Singers Hrishikesh Ranade, Prathamesh Laghate, Ketaki Bhave, and Parag Pandav led the evening with abhangs, bhajans, and devotional songs that had the audience singing along by the second act. Shrirang Godbole wrote and directed the production, weaving traditional music into a narrative arc rather than treating the songs as standalone performances. Live taal, mridang, and folk instruments gave the whole evening a raw, unplugged energy that a recording could never quite capture. This wasn’t the show’s first outing either, earlier stagings at Dinanath Mangeshkar Natyagruha in Vile Parle and Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagruha in Thane had already built a following for it.
Among those in attendance were Shri Sanjay Khandare (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), Government of Maharashtra, Dr. Pradnya Manohar, Deputy Director (Konkan Division), Directorate of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra and Ms Naveli Deshmukh, Maharashtra’s Ambassador of Youth Tourism, along with several senior department officials.
Speaking to the gathering, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism) Shri Sanjay Khandare (IAS), said, “Maharashtra’s saint tradition and the Ashadhi Wari to Pandharpur are far more than religious customs. They represent a living cultural legacy built on the values of equality, devotion, and community participation. The Maharashtra Tourism Department is committed to preserving and promoting this heritage while showcasing it to audiences across the world. The overwhelming response to ‘Chala Pandharisi Jaau,’ organised with the sponsorship support of the Maharashtra Tourism Department to mark the Ashadhi Wari, reflects the growing interest in Maharashtra’s spiritual and cultural tourism. Through such initiatives, we aim to create new opportunities to celebrate the state’s cultural heritage while strengthening religious tourism. Our vision is to take the universal values of the Wari to national and international audiences, further positioning Maharashtra as a leading destination for spiritual, cultural, and experiential travel.”
To recreate the spirit of the Wari, the area surrounding the theatre was transformed into a traditional dindi before the programme began. The rhythmic beats of the taal and mridang, bhajan-kirtan performances, chants of “Vithuraya,” and an interactive dindi procession gave visitors a glimpse of the unique atmosphere experienced during the pilgrimage to Pandharpur.
The programme also featured dance performances depicting different expressions of devotion to Lord Vitthal. Adding a contemporary dimension, specially produced video presentations brought inspiring episodes from the lives of Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Eknath, and Bhakt Pundalik to life on the big screen. Blending music, dance, storytelling, and devotion, ‘Chala Pandharisi Jaau’ showcased Maharashtra’s enduring spiritual heritage while reinforcing the state’s growing appeal as a destination for religious, cultural, and experiential tourism.
