2 weeks Ago By Rajiv Mani
1 2 Prayagraj: Differences have surfaced between the two factions of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad again, this time over the issue of changing the name of Peshwai and Shahi Snan for Maha Kumbh-2025. While ABAP president Shrimahant Ravindra Puri (head of Mansa Devi Trust and member of Niranjani Akhara) said that Shahi Snan would be called ‘Rajsi Snan' and Peshwai as ‘Chhavani Pravesh', the invitation card of Shrimahanirvani, Nirmal Akhara (of another faction) has used the term ‘Kumbh Mela Chhavani Pravesh' against Peshwai and ‘Kumbh Amrit Snan' for Shahi Snan. The bhoomi pujan of Shrimahanirvani Akhara is on Dec 6, Dharmadhwaja pujan on Dec 22, and Kumbh Mela Chhavani Pravesh Shobha Yatra is on Jan 2.
There are two factions in ABAP— the first faction, which claims to have the support of nine Akharas, is led by Ravindra Puri of Niranjani Akhara, also the head of Mansa Devi Temple Trust while the second faction is led by Mahant Ravindra Puri of Maha Nirvani Akhara. Likewise, Mahant Hari Giri, the patron of Juna Akhara, is the general secretary of one faction, while Mahant Rajendra Das, secretary of Ani Akhara, is the general secretary of the other. In a meeting with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Prayagraj in Oct, the Akhara Parishad president Shrimahant Ravindra Puri called for writing Chhavani Pravesh against Peshwai and Shahi Snan as Rajsi Snan.
Most of the nine Akharas associated with him agreed to it. However, the Akharas associated with the other faction did not agree. Secretary of Shrimahanirvani, Nirmal Akhara Shrimahant Yamuna Puri, says, "We have stopped using names that symbolise slavery and have instead used the term Kumbh Chhavani Pravesh (Peshwai) and Amrit Snan (Shahi Snan).
These names were not written because of opposition from anyone. There is no consensus on any one name yet, and since there is less time left, new names have been decided after taking the opinion of the saints of the Akharas and used in the invitation card." However, Shrimahant Ravindra Puri maintains, "The govt and administration are also using the two names coined by us, and we have the support of nine Akharas over the issue.
Since four Akharas are associated with the other faction, they are contradicting us. That is why a new name has been used by them." This is not acceptable, he added.
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