Lord Vittal and Rukmini Ma vintage lithographs and Sant Tukaram vintage postcard and prints in my collection sharing today on the auspicious First Ekadashi or Ashada Ekadashi

 On the auspicious "First Ekadashi" festival (Tholi Ekadashi in telugu language) today sharing my vintage collection of Lord Vittal and Rukmini Ma vintage lithograph prints and Sant Tukaram vintage postcard and prints wihch are in my collection.

Hindu festivals starting from today i.e. First Ekadashi onwards.

First Ekadashi festival is very popular and celebrated in a grand procession in Lord Vittal Temple in Pandaripur. On this auspicious occasion of First Ekadashi herewith i am sharing two vintage art prints of "Lord Vittal and Rukmini Maa of Pandaripur" of Ravi Varma Press which are in my collection and one vintage postcard Sant Tukaram going to heaven and one vintage print of Tukarm singing hymns on Lord Vittlal which are in my collection.

Below is some brief history about Ashada Ekadashi procession taken place in Lord Vittal Temple, Pandaripur taken From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitthal_Temple,_Pandharpur

"Ashadi Ekadasi is a religious procession and is celebrated during the months of June- July (Aashaadh Shukla paksha). It consists of a beautifully decorated Palkhi having the “padukas” of the lord and the Palkhi procession consists of people collectively walking, singing and dancing the glory of the Lord in what are called as ‘Dindis’.

The Palkhi procession has remained unbroken since it began despite wars, famines and floods. More than Fifty Palkhis of saints assemble at Pandharpur every year. In Maharashtra “Varkaris” (predominantly simple farmers) is a big community. They usually undertake 21-day walk after they have completed the sowing process in their fields. In the Ashadi Ekadasi festival, people from every faith and religion participate. Learned sages also come for it. Jnyaneshwar preached the Gita which is considered the highest religious text in Maharashtra.

The 'Bhakti Marg' (the path of devotion) as propounded by Sant Jnyaneshwar, teach us to forget the physical self in pursuit of the Lord. When the Varkaris sing and dance during the pilgrimage, they forget the material world around them.

Along with the Dindi procession, seva to the poor and needy is done reflecting that Lord is in all forms. This is called ‘Seva Dindi’. During the Seva Dindi, the people on pilgrimage undertake selfless service to the poor and needy like Amrut Kalash (Annadhan), Narayan seva, Medical seva, Building & repairing rural infrastructure etc.

Participation in Ashadi Dindi and Seva Dindi helps an individual in many ways by bringing good health, peace & prosperity in his life. Chanting the continuous glory of the God in the Ashadi Dindi procession and Seva Dindi purifies an individual, there is an inner cleansing that takes place in Mind, Body and Spirit and the participants tend to lose their individual identities and experience bliss. It develops all aspects of human personality and helps us understand the true purpose of Life."