Although
when moving about in his routine daily life he does not make himself conspicuous through
any special dress or sectarian symbols, the Varkari when he moves out for his vari or trip
to Pandharpur does have a peculiar aspect. His dress consists of the ordinary shirt and
dhoti with a turban or a cap, but he will be carrying the ‘tals' or small cymbals in
his hands, a rosary of tulshi - beads would be conspicuously seen around his neck and he
would inevitably carry the saffron nag from a short stick. It is the congregation of these
Varkaris so turned out, that make the palanquin procession so very picturesque. Who is a
Varkari The word vari means a trip or pilgrimage to that place during the Ashadh and
Kartik months. One who undertakes this vari is a Varkari, Literally speaking, the meaning
of the word vari is a thing or a feature recurring at fixed intervals. Unlike visitors the
Varkari is bound to attend the ekadashi fairs of these two months every year. He would
take care to fulfil this duty most faithfully. On reaching Pandharpur, a snana in the
Chandrabhaga, the darshan of Pundalik and above all the darshan of Vitthal are the chief
rites, if they can be called as such, that he is to perform. The Vithoba is the sole
object of his devotion, of his bhakti.
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