Sadhus won’t change their Kumbh route, waste Rs 5 cr

In a manifestation of the state’s haphazard planning and lack of coordination, about Rs 5 crore spent on creating a new route for sadhu...

In a manifestation of the state’s haphazard planning and lack of coordination, about Rs 5 crore spent on creating a new route for sadhus for the holy dip during the forthcoming Kumbh Mela has gone waste as all the akharas of sadhus have refused to use it.

At a meeting of officials and sadhus, the Mahants (head priests) of various akharas said they would stick to the old route from the Sadhu Gram to the Ramkund at Godavari river for a holy dip during the Kumbh. They said they would not use the new route laid by the administration, which involved a detour of about half a kilometre and has a crematorium on the way.

As a result, about Rs 5 crore spent on creating the new route has gone waste — leaving officials with very few choices other than allowing pilgrims to avail it as a face-saving device.

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The holy men usually go in a procession from the Sadhu Gram in Panchavati to the Godavari river on the old Shahi Marg. There are 13 akharas of sadhus (ten of Shaiviite sadhus from Trimbakeshwar and three of Vaishnaviites from Nashik) that perform rituals in Godavari during the Kumbh.

The Kumbh is scheduled to begin from July 30 this year. About 2.5 lakh sadhus and 70 lakh pilgrims are expected to visit Nashik and Trimbakeshwar for the rituals till August 2004.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde yesterday mooted a proposal of reserving land for the sadhus who visit Nashik during the Kumbh. After a meeting with officials to review preparations for the Kumbh, Shinde said encroachments near Panchavati was a recurring problem and suggested that the land on which the Sadhu Gram had been created be reserved permanently for sadhus. He said the municipal corporation should ensure that the land is kept free from encroachments.

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