Prayagraj Magh Mela: Shankaracharya Stopped from Holy Dip, Police Accused of Assaulting Monks, Sits on Dharna

An unexpected incident marred the sacred occasion of Mauni Amavasya at the holy Prayagraj Magh Mela on Sunday. As millions of devotees flocked to the Sangam to take a holy dip, Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotish Peeth, who was proceeding towards the Sangam ghat in a palanquin with his disciples for the ritual bath, was stopped by the police administration, while police officials, citing the immense crowd, requested the Shankaracharya to disembark from his palanquin and proceed to the Sangam on foot. This request ignited a dispute that quickly escalated, creating a tense atmosphere at the Mela.

Confrontation at Sangam

The Shankaracharya's disciples didn't agree with the police's directive. They insisted that their guru should be allowed to proceed to the Sangam in his palanquin, while when the police physically prevented the palanquin from moving forward, the disciples attempted to push it ahead, determined to facilitate their guru's bath. This led to a heated argument and a physical altercation between the disciples and police personnel. The situation deteriorated rapidly, prompting the police to use force. Several disciples were detained, and it's alleged that the police took one monk to a police outpost and assaulted him. This incident deeply angered the Shankaracharya and his followers.

Shankaracharya's Protest and Dharna

Upon hearing about the detention of his disciples and the alleged assault on a monk, Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand became extremely agitated. He refused to move forward until his disciples were released and insisted that he wouldn't take the holy dip until they were freed. Senior police and administrative officials present at the scene attempted to pacify him, joining hands and appealing for calm, but the Shankaracharya remained firm in his resolve. The standoff and tension continued for approximately two hours, maintaining a charged atmosphere at the Mela.

During this time, the police detained several more of the Shankaracharya's supporters. Ultimately, the police forcibly dragged the Shankaracharya's palanquin about one kilometer away from the Sangam, while in the process, the palanquin's canopy (kshatrap) was also broken. Due to this entire sequence of events, Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand was unable to perform the sacred Mauni Amavasya bath.

Administration's Stance: DM's Statement

Following the serious incident, Prayagraj District Magistrate (DM) Manish Kumar Verma presented the administration's perspective, while he stated that Swami Avimukteshwaranand had arrived in a palanquin without prior permission. At that time, there was an extremely large crowd of devotees at the Sangam ghat, making it a significant challenge to maintain security. The DM alleged that the Shankaracharya's supporters attempted to break through security barriers and engaged in pushing and shoving with police personnel. He also clarified that the administration is thoroughly investigating the entire. Matter and appropriate action will be taken based on the facts.

Mauni Amavasya Celebrations and Mela Arrangements

Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand expressed his profound displeasure regarding the incident, while he alleged that high-ranking officials were assaulting his saints. He stated that while he had initially considered returning, he would now take the bath and wouldn't leave without doing so. He firmly declared that no one would be able to stop him. The Shankaracharya further alleged that all this was happening on 'orders from above' and that the action was being carried out at the behest of the government to harass him, as the government was displeased with him. He explained the reason for the alleged displeasure, stating that when a stampede occurred during the Mahakumbh, he had held the government responsible, and now they might be instructing officials to 'take revenge. ' This statement has added a political dimension to the incident.

Despite the controversy, the Mauni Amavasya bathing continued on a large scale at the Prayagraj Magh Mela. A massive crowd of devotees gathered at the Sangam ghat, queuing for hours to take the holy dip. According to administrative figures, approximately 3 crore people had already bathed in the Sangam, and. It was expected that this number could reach 4 crore by the end of the day. To maintain security and order at the Mela, the administration had made extensive arrangements. The entire 800-hectare Mela area was divided into 7 sectors, while utilizing advanced technology, the entire area was continuously monitored with the help of AI (Artificial Intelligence), CCTV cameras, and drones. For the convenience of devotees, 8 kilometers of temporary ghats were constructed.

Life Saved at Sangam

Amidst the Mela, in a separate incident, a devotee's condition suddenly deteriorated immediately after taking a bath in the Sangam. Witnessing the serious situation, RAF (Rapid Action Force) jawan Prahlad Kumar, stationed at the Sangam ghat, acted swiftly. He quickly reached the devotee and, with the help of his colleagues, began administering CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). After a few minutes of tireless effort, the devotee's heartbeat returned, and his life was saved. Timely first aid prevented the loss of a precious life. Subsequently, the devotee was handed over to the health team for further treatment.

Political Outcry from Samajwadi Party

The Samajwadi Party (SP) reacted strongly to the incident, while sP leader Ram Gopal Yadav condemned the event, questioning whether the Magh Mela administration and Prayagraj police would now decide who bathes at the Sangam ghat and who doesn't. He stated that today, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotish Peeth was prevented. From taking a Ganga bath by the administration, and his devotees were lathi-charged. Ram Gopal Yadav informed that the Swamiji has been on a hunger strike in front of his camp for four hours. He criticized the Yogi government, stating that no one could have imagined such an insult to the greatest religious leader of Hinduism under a 'Yogi government. ' He demanded strict action against the culprits, thereby transforming the incident into a significant political issue.