Seers Warn They May Stay Away From the Kumbh if Sadhugram Shows No Progress in a Month; Mahajan Says Works Will Be Done in Four Months
Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad spokesperson Mahant Sanjaydas and Nirvani akhada's Mahant Muralidas said the 40 seers who came for the flag hoisting did not get proper lodging, and asked how 40,000 would be housed during the Kumbh, Sarkarnama reports. They warned that if there is no Sadhugram progress within a month, they will have to rethink coming to the Simhastha. Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan told them all works would be finished in four months. REPORTED; no official response yet.
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The seers' complaints about the pace of work have turned into a deadline. REPORTED: this is from Sarkarnama (30 October, 12:06 PM IST). We have not seen an official statement from NTKMA, NMC or the akhadas.
This is a follow-up to our 30 October story, Mahajan promises all Kumbh works before the Amrit Snans.
What the seers said
- Who: on Thursday afternoon (29 October), Mahant Muralidas of the Nirvani akhada, Mahant Narendradas, Mahant Hemantdas, Mahant Sanjaydas and Mahant Bhakticharandas inspected Ramkund and the Shahi Marg ahead of the flag hoisting.
- Lodging: Sanjaydas, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad's national spokesperson, and Muralidas said the 40 seers who came for the flag hoisting did not have adequate lodging, and asked how the administration would house 40,000 during the Kumbh.
- The warning: if the government does not arrange Sadhugram within a month, they warned of a boycott. Sanjaydas put it as: if no progress is seen in a month, the akhadas will have to rethink coming to the Simhastha.
- Why the timing matters: akhadas need their land by around June 2027, Sanjaydas said, so they can decide how many khalsas (groups) to bring. Sarkarnama notes the Sadhugram land is still not in the administration's possession.
- Ramkund steps: Muralidas said the new steps into Ramkund are not designed well and could cause accidents when thousands of seers go down together for the Amrit Snan. He asked for the work to be checked again and changed.
What Mahajan said
Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan met the seers at the spot. With about nine months left for the Kumbh, he said all works would be finished in four months, called officials in and told them to act on the seers' suggestions quickly. Mahajan and NMC Commissioner Manisha Khatri then inspected the steps. No decision on changing them has been reported.
Sources differ
- Deadline: the Times of India (29 October) quoted Mahajan promising completion before the Amrit Snans in August and September 2027. Sarkarnama quotes him saying four months. Both may be true, but neither is in an official statement.
- Tone: Sarkarnama's headline calls it a direct boycott warning; the quote it carries from Sanjaydas is softer ("will have to rethink coming").
