Akhada Parishad Leaders Arrive for the Flag Hoisting: Mahant Sanjay Das Demands Sadhugram Plots and Farmers' Compensation, Flags Ramkund Step Work
Mahant Gyan Das, former president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, and Mahant Sanjay Das, the Parishad's national spokesperson, reached Nashik on 28 October for the flag hoisting. At a press conference Sanjay Das asked the administration to hand over Sadhugram land and plots to the akhadas quickly and to pay farmers their pending compensation, saying the saints would otherwise stand with the farmers. He also said the Ramkund steps have technical faults and works are slow. He welcomed Shaiva and Vaishnava saints coming together for the 31 October Goda Aarti, but ruled out joint participation in other events. These are claims and demands, reported by Sarkarnama, Navbharat and the Free Press Journal.
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Senior saints are arriving in Nashik for Saturday's flag hoisting, and the first of them have brought a list of complaints with them. REPORTED: everything below is what the saints said, as reported by Sarkarnama, Navbharat and the Free Press Journal on 28 October. These are claims and demands, not official decisions.
Who arrived
- Mahant Gyan Das, former president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (Nirvani akhada), and Mahant Sanjay Das, described as his successor and the Parishad's national spokesperson, reached Nashik on 28 October.
- Sanjay Das held a press conference. The Free Press Journal reports that Gyan Das also raised concerns about delays in Simhastha works.
What they asked for
- Sadhugram land: hand over the Sadhugram land and plots to the akhadas quickly.
- Farmers' compensation: the municipal corporation should pay farmers whose land is being taken their pending compensation. Sanjay Das said that if it does not, the saints will stand with the farmers. He also noted that some farmers have gone to the High Court.
- Ramkund steps and pace of work: he said the new Ramkund steps have technical faults and that works are moving slowly.
Where this conflicts with the record
- Sarkarnama quotes Sanjay Das as saying land acquisition for Sadhugram has not started. That does not match the municipal corporation's own step on 21 October, when it began acquiring 191 acres in Tapovan and invited objections within 15 days, as we reported then. The accurate position is that acquisition has started but is far from complete: the plan is for about 1,400 acres (background).
- We have not seen any official response to the Ramkund steps claim.
On the joint Goda Aarti
- Sanjay Das welcomed Shaiva and Vaishnava saints coming together for the 31 October Goda Aarti, but said there will be no joint participation in other events. Navbharat credits Mahant Bhakti Das, spokesperson of the three Vaishnava ani akhadas, with pushing for the joint aarti. Background: our joint aarti story.
Gram Pradakshina start time: still two versions
- IANS (28 October) says the 30 October Gram Pradakshina starts around 2 PM, led by Jagadguru Narendracharya.
- Aapla Nashik 24 says it starts at 3 PM from Modi Ground, with a 21 ft Amrutkumbh tableau.
- This is the same 2 PM versus 3 PM split we flagged earlier. Reach early. Route details: Gram Pradakshina story.
For the full programme, see the Dhwajarohan 2026 hub.
