India, June 20 -- As the bugle for the upcoming local body elections is sounded - dates for which are yet to be officially announced - the Maharashtra government is set to spend over Rs.21 crore on publicity for various schemes during the 21-day Ashadhi Wari pilgrimage from June 18 to July 8.

The Wari, a 700-year-old annual pilgrimage of the Warkari sect, sees over 2.5 million devotees (Warkaris) walking nearly 240 km from Alandi and Dehu to the temple town of Pandharpur. The yatra culminates on Ashadhi Ekadashi, which falls on July 6 this year.

This year, the state's publicity blitz during the Wari is pegged at Rs.25.17 crore - a figure that notably exceeds the Rs.12.82 crore allocated for essential sanitation services such as portable...