Yuriko Ikenoya – a Woman Warkari from Japan Participating in Pandarpur Yatra for 30 years

Warkaris are pilgrims that follow the Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi procession from Dehu and the Sant Dnyaneshwar palkhi from Alandi in Pune to Pandarpur. The warkaris walk more than 210 km to reach Pandarpur. The walk is for 21 days and the Pandarpur yatra is observed on Ashadi Ekadasi day. Yuriko Ikenoya from Japan has been participating in the Pandarpur Yatra for 30 years. She follows the Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi from Alandi.

Mid-Day reports about Yuriko Ikenoya

Draped in a simple, white sari and a laptop in hand, Yuriko Ikenoya, is any other sanyasi at the Dyaneshwar Samadhi Temple, but that she is a Japanese by birth.

Speaking chaste Hindi, Yuriko, who is in her early 50s, reminisces about her 30 years at the Palkhi procession.

It was the abhangas (rhymes) by Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar, the great Maharashtrian saint poets, that inspired Ikenoya's decision to spend a month with the Palkhi pilgrimage and also go on foot from Alandi to Pandharpur. Ikenoya a graduate in Social Welfare visited Powanar Ashram to meet Vinoba Bhave in 1975 and decided to stay on.

Yuriko has been residing at the Pawnar Ashram in Vardha. Ikenoya has translated Vinoba's Bhagwad Gita into Japanese. She has also translated at least 1,000 abhangas by Tukaram.

Talking about the palkhi pilgrimage, Ikenoya admitted that her experience with other pilgrims was exhilarating. "I am a pakka Warkari now. I meet thousands every year and look forward to meeting more," she said.

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