The 13 Akharas of Sanatan Dharma, a cornerstone of public faith, continue to establish their presence in the Akhara sector for the upcoming Maha Kumbh at the Sangam.  The Shri Shambhu Panch Dashnam Atal Akhara entered the cantonment on Wednesday. A large number of devotees gathered to see the grand entry.

The akharas, which came into existence in an organised form in the sixth century with the efforts of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, were established to advance both weapons and scriptures.

If the scriptures spread Shankar’s religious thoughts to the masses, the weapons protected it from attacks from other religions. Among these akharas, the akhara of Shaiv Sanyasi Shri Shambhu Panch Dashnam Atal Akhara, took out its grand cantonment entry procession for entry into the Kumbh area.

This entry procession was taken out from the local headquarters of the akhara at Alopi Bagh. A beautiful combination of tradition, enthusiasm and discipline was visible throughout the entry procession.

This entry procession was taken out under the leadership of Acharya Maha Mandaleshwar Swami Vishwatmanand Saraswati. The procession of the akhara’s Isht Devta Lord Gajanan was at the front and behind him were the traditional deities of the akhara.

A crowd of local people gathered in the city to see the army of Naga ascetics at the cantonment entry of Atal Akhara, which started from the local headquarters. Naga ascetics were walking in a queue after the revered deity Bhalo of the akhara, who was walking behind Isht Devta Ganapati. This was the first akhara in which Naga Sanyasinis also registered their presence. A child Naga was also the center of attraction for the people at the cantonment entrance.

Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishwatmanand Saraswati of the akhara says that more than two dozen Maha Mandaleshwars and more than two hundred Naga Sanyasis were present in the cantonment. People gathered on both sides of the roads to seek the blessings of the saints of the akhara riding on chariots.

A unique feature observed in the procession of Atal Akhara was the spears adorned with flowers at the forefront of the entrance procession, receiving reverence equal to that of the akhara’s deity.

The spear named ‘Surya Prakash’ was also at the front of the procession of the akhara which comes out from the ashram of the akhara to the Maha Kumbh area only during the Maha Kumbh of Prayagraj.

The procession reached Sector 20 of Maha Kumbh after covering a distance of five kilometres. At many places on the way, the saints were welcomed with flower showers by the Maha Kumbh administration.