Seers boycott ‘Shahi Snan’ lamenting ignorance by religious body

HARIDWAR - Hundreds of seers boycotted the third ‘Shahi Snana’ or, the royal dip on Tuesday during the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela lamenting that they have been disregarded by the All India Akhara Parishad, the apex body governing the holy men.

“For years, it has been a tradition that the Shri Mahant of the Shri Ramanadia Nirmohi Akhara takes the royal dip. After the demise of the Shri Mahant, the new Shri Mahant was elected and the concerned people informed. But still we were not given the desired position. Those who do not deserve, get the privilege. About 1000 priests of the Shri Ramanadia Nirmohi Akhara are protesting against this. We boycott the royal dip,” said Shri Mahant Madan Mohan Das of the Shri Ramanadia Nirmohi Akhara.

This ‘Shahi Snana’ is a part of the ongoing Kumbh Mela also referred to as ‘Mahakumbh’, one of the biggest religious congregations in the world.

Hundreds of thousand of devotees, ascetics, priests and other religious heads have converged in Haridwar to take a holy dip, especially on the fixed dates of Shahi Snana, the royal baths that are performed only on the most special occasions.

Among these was the prominent Hindu pontiff, Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati.

The Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years and taking a dip along the riverbanks of Haridwar is considered auspicious by Hindus, as they believe the city is one of the holiest spots along the 2,000 kilometre long flow of River Ganga. (ANI)