Sadhus clash over position in procession

After the clashes went on for a few minutes, Mahant Gyan Das intervened and resolved the matter and the procession began to move once again.

Nashik Kumbh Mela, Trimbakeshwar temple, Kumbh Mela traffic, Akhara, Mumbai news

Sadhus take a holy dip at Godavari river Saturday. (Vasant Prabhu)

Sadhus of Nirmohi Ani Akhara and Digambar Ani Akhara clashed on Saturday over the sequence of vehicles in their processions and the schedule of their khalsas for the shahi snan at the Kumbh mela. However, order was restored through the intervention of a mahant.

Nirvani Ani Akhara was the first to move towards Ramkund in the procession followed by Digambar Ani Akhara. Digambar Ani Akhara has highest number (400) of mahamandaleshwars. While Digambar Akhara was supposed to reach the kund by 7.30 am and start their shahi snan, the last five to six vehicles could not make it and before they could move, sadhus of Nirmohi Akhara took over the road and did not let the Digambar Akhara vehicles to move.

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“We were scheduled to move our procession by 7 am and reach the kund by 8 am for shahi snan. Why should we miss the schedule because of them? They started ill-treating us first, we just retaliated.” said a Sadhu.

Police deputed at Tapovan could not intervene and control the situation as Nirmohi Akhara sadhus told them it was a schedule handed over to them by the police administration and they will follow it.

After the clashes went on for a few minutes, Mahant Gyan Das intervened and resolved the matter and the procession began to move once again.

Shankaracharya Jagatguru Sadhvi Trikal Bhavanta of Pari Akhara boycotted the first shahi snan in protest against the district administration. Sadhvi Bhavanta had filed a petition in a local court last Tuesday seeking permission for a separate shahi snan for her akhara at Sita kund or near the Naroshankar temple on the bank of river Godavari. It was opposed by some mahants and she was not granted permission. She and her other akhara members took their holy bath at her camp in sadhu gram at Tapovan, and sported black badges as a mark of protest.

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