The apex body of the thirteen Akharas, Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, has condemned the Mela administrative officials for not inviting the saint community during the inaugural ritual of Ardh Kumbh mela held at Hari Ki Pauri on January 1. The Parishad is also perturbed over their not being taken on board regarding the mela preparations.
As has been the tradition for years, before the beginning of the Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh mela, Ganga worship is organised on a large scale at the sanctum sanctorum Har Ki Pauri which is attended by Akhara representatives, saints, social activists and eminent people of the city. But this time, Mela officials and Ganga Sabha office bearers organised the ritual, causing heart burns in the others who had been given a short shrift.
Venting annoyance, the spokesperson of Akhara Parishad, Baba Hath Yogi, said, “It is for the first time that we have not been consulted by Mela administration while doing Yajna (sacrificial fire) at the sanctum sanctorum. Neither the Mela administration had sought our consent for Mela works nor we have been invited at the Ganga worshipping ritual. In all mega events like Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh Mela, Akhara Parishad and some others seers were invited.” He, however, added that the saints are satisfied with the Ardh Kumbh Mela works undertaken and hoped that remaining works will be completed in time. “But it would have been better had the Mela administration held a meeting with representatives of Akahra Parishad,” he said.
Not just the saints but the local traders are also unhappy being kept at bay from the inaugural Ganga ritual by the Mela administration. The president of Haridwar Vyapar Mandal Kailash Keshwani said, “The Mela gives business to the locals. The administration must not ignore the local traders and priests.”
Mela Adhikari S A Murugesan said, “Ganga Pujan of holy Ganga was organised only for the Mela officers. We did not invite any organisation or group. A programme would be organized soon where we will invite all the eminent people of the city and the social organisations as per the wish expressed by the Chief Minister during his last visit here.”
As per the sources, this worshipping ritual would be attended by the Chief minister himself and an invitation has also been sent by Sri Jairam Ashram to the AICC vice- president Rahul Gandhi.
Mention worthy, during his recent visit, the CM announced that the programme of worshipping Ganga would be held 12 January again. He further entrusted the district Congress committee president and Ganga S abha member Anshul Shrikunj with the task of arranging things. Three auspicious dates of 4, 6 and 12 January had been declared as days of merit period for Ganga worship.
When asked, Anshul Shrikunj said, “A Yajna shall be performed in the morning hours at Har Ki Pauri to invoke the deities for success of Ardh Kumbh Mela. All local traders, saints, Ganga Sabha volunteers and eminent people of the city shall be invited for this ritual.”