Divyang( Blind) friends and Actors of National Award winning film ‘’Ringan’’ flagged off two Akashvani’s’Studio on wheels’ today i.e.on 29 June 2016 at 5 pm from Akashvani Pune Shivajinagr campus, which will accompany lakhs of people walking in wari from Dehu and Alandi to Pandarpur. Ashadhiwari is a historic event, a yearly yatra by lakhs of persons – around 250kms covered in 18 days, which dates back to 16th century. In the WARI participant WARKARIS are undaunted by natural impediments (rain or shine, winds and darkness) and hardships of the walk. Participating in the WARI is its own reward and Panduranga the lone object of worship. The WARI is a microcosm of the vast sects, sub-sects, castes and trades that go into the making of the state of Maharastra – as men, women, young and old people from all walks of life, age and socio-economic status walk alongside each other, never for a moment being aware of their differences or status.
Akashvani Pune has been giving live commentary of the wari procession for past 20 years as it passed through the city of Pune, but since last year Akashvani Pune took a unique initiative and sent two vehicles (Studios on Wheel) along with wari, to catch the bytes and feelings of this historic journey on whole of it’s route. Akashvani Pune programmers and engineers move with lakhs of devotees and record the interviews, bhakti songs, special events 24X7 and prepare a daily radio report which is broadcast on all Akashvani stations of Maharashtra. Trying to truly live up to it’s mission statement – BahujanHitaya- BahujanSukhaya, this is Akashvani Pune’s humble effort to connect with the people at large, walking on streets.
As it’s tribute to lakhs of warkaries who walk together forgetting the man-made differences of caste, creed and economic and physical disparities, this year Akashvani Pune’s Studio on wheels are flagged off today by two Divyang ( Blind) friends, Shri Shantaram Gawade and Shri Ganpat Jagtap who despite their physical challenges have been walking (250 kms) for 21 days in wari for 20 years regularly. Director and actor of National Award winning film ‘Ringan’ Shri Makarand Mane and Shri Shashank Shende, which is having wari theme were also there during the flag off. This type of Radio coverage of such a magnitude continuously for over two weeks will be a world record and the AkashvaniPune team is working for it’s entry / documentation in Limca book of world record this year.
The flag off was done by Shri Prakash Chabria,Chaiman,Finolex Pipes and two Divyang ( Blind) friends, Shri Shantaram Gawade and Shri Ganpat Jagtap. Shri R.D.Chavan,AGM,Bank of Maharashtra,Shri Ashish Bhatnagar,DDG,AIR Pune,Shri Nitin Kelkar,DD, News,AIR Pune and Shri Ravindra Khasnis,Head of Prog.,AIR Pune graced the event.