‘Pandharpur Wari – In the Footsteps of the Saints’, Produced by the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations, Wins International Honour
Mumbai, October 2026 : The documentary Pandharpur Wari – In the Footsteps of the Saints, produced by the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) to take the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Pandharpur Ashadhi Wari to audiences across the world, has been selected as India’s national winner in the Best Branded Programme category at the prestigious Asian Academy Creative Awards 2026. The achievement reflects Maharashtra’s rich culture on the global stage.
The documentary was produced with the objective of showcasing to the world the rich devotional tradition of the Pandharpur Wari, one of Maharashtra’s cultural treasures. Produced jointly by the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations and Warner Bros. Discovery, the documentary has been broadcast on various Discovery channels worldwide.
The 22-minute documentary, made in English, introduces international audiences to Maharashtra’s saint tradition, the Warkari community and the centuries-old Pandharpur Wari. It has played an important role in taking the messages of devotion, equality, humanity and brotherhood imparted by Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram Maharaj to an international platform, transcending language barriers.
International Recognition for the Glorious Tradition of the Wari: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
Reacting to the achievement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Pandharpur Wari is an ancient devotional tradition that brings everyone together in devotion to Lord Vitthal, without distinctions of caste, religion or economic status.
He said the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations had produced and released the documentary Pandharpur Wari – In the Footsteps of the Saints to take this great tradition, its purpose and its ideals to audiences around the world.
The documentary has received the national award for Best Branded Programme for India at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2026. The Chief Minister congratulated the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations and Warner Bros. Discovery on the achievement.
He also appealed to people to watch the documentary, which presents the glorious tradition of the Wari to the world.
Wari’s Cultural Heritage Highlighted on the International Stage: Principal Secretary Brijesh Singh
Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary and Director General of the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations, said the documentary had been selected as India’s national winner from among high-quality productions submitted by various countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
He said the recognition had brought international attention to Maharashtra’s devotional heritage, saint literature, message of social equality and the distinctive cultural tradition of the Wari.
