Hindu Sadhus will call ‘Shahi Snan’ as ‘Rajasi Snan’ and demand to amend Places of Worship Act during Kumbh Mela.

At Maha Kumbh gathering, Hindu ascetics to propose renaming ‘Shahi snan’, amending Places of Worship Act.

 Prashant Srivastava | The Print Online | Prayagraj | Dec 29, 2024:: Attendees at future Kumbh and Maha Kumbh Mela events may have a “Rajasi Snan”, instead of the usual Shahi Snan (royal bath), if the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad’s (ABAP) proposal to change the name is endorsed at the Dharam Sansad, likely to be organised at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the last week of January 2025. 

Additionally, the ‘Peshwai’ or ceremonial entry to the akharas at the event may be renamed to ‘Chhaoni Pravesh’.

The ABAP’s proposal seeks to remove Urdu words ‘Shahi‘ & ‘Peshwai‘, and replace them with names rooted in ‘Sanatan Dharam’.

ABAP was established in 1954 to organise the Kumbh Mela—the largest religious congregation of Hindus attended by millions. The upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj will be held from 13 January to 26 February, 2025.

Ravinder Puri, ABAP president & chief priest of Niranjani Akhara, said, “We wanted the proposal to be implemented this time, but now we are planning to raise it at the Dharam Sansad, so that it is followed in the next Kumbh and Maha Kumbh events. Our aim is to spread ‘Sanatan Dharm’ and tradition. We do not want to carry forward the traditions of the Mughal Era.”

He added that Mohan Yadav, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, was the first political leader to raise this point a few months ago. “We welcomed the suggestion and took it forward.”

His close aide, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Prakashanand, told ThePrint, “It’s an important step for Sanatan tradition. We are not here to promote Urdu. We are here to promote Sanskrit and Hindi. Kumbh is the biggest event for Hindus, so we should be promoting our tradition first. If Allahabad was replaced with Prayagraj and Faizabad with Ayodhya, then why not ‘Shahi’ with ‘Rajasi’?

ThePrint has also learnt that ABAP has planned to call for an amendment in the Places of Worship Act, 1991 at the Dharam Sansad to pressure the Bharatiya Janata party-led government to make changes to the law. An ABAP functionary told ThePrint, “It is the right time to challenge this law, if we want to establish a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. Mosques should be surveyed to find our Sanatan Dharma temples, which were supposedly demolished during the Mughal era.”

Another functionary revealed that the issue of the safety of Hindus and attacks on Hindu saints in Bangladesh and Pakistan will also be discussed at the convention.

‘Blueprint for Sanatan board ready’

The blueprint for the formation of the Sanatan board is also likely to be discussed.

Many Hindu seers had previously appealed to the central government to protect the properties of various temples and mutts and abolish the Waqf boards.

Puri told ThePrint that a blueprint for the proposed Sanatan board has been drawn in consultation with all the stakeholders and prominent seers, according to which, under the umbrella of the board, all 13 akharas would be independent, and the government would have to abide by all decisions by the board.

“There will be no interference by the government as this will be the seer community’s body. Only prominent seers, saints and such stakeholders will have a say in the formation or running of the board.”

He added that the ABAP will also raise the issue of Waqf properties at Dharam Sansad, proposing that 20 percent of Waqf lands be given to Muslim community and 80 percent to Sanatanis on the basis of the population.

Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Balakanand Giri of Anand Akhara said that the formation of Sanatan Board is necessary to protect ‘Sanatan Dharma’.

“Sanatan board will work not to capture anyone’s property, but to protect the monastery-temples and followers of Sanatan Dharma. A fight will be fought to legally take back the mutts and temples that have been captured or demolished. The temples will then be renovated. We are ready with the blueprint.”

According to sources in the ABAP, all 13 Akhara chiefs and senior functionaries will be present at the Dharam Sansad. After passing the proposals, a draft copy will be sent to the Centre and all state governments to push for their implementation.

Read also: Chinese Traveller Described Prayagraj As Land Of ‘Fruit-Bearing Trees’ In 644 CE.

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Courtesy: The Print, ANI, One India and Republic World.