Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Ayodhya saints offer milk to Saryu in protest against wazu

- Pawan Dixit pawan.dixit@htlive.com ▪

LUCKNOW : A section of saints in Ayodhya carried out dugdhabhis­hek of the Saryu river on Saturday in protest against wazu (ablutions) performed on the river bank by three Muslim women on July 12. Dugdhabhis­hek is a form of ritualisti­c worship performed with milk offerings.

Three members of the Muslim Mahila Manch, including its national coordinato­r Shah in Parveen,s tate president Shabana Azmi and state secretary Gausia Khan, had performed wazu at Tulsidas ghat on the bank of the Saryu for a special namaz proposed by the Muslim Rashtriya Manch at the riverbank for constructi­on of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The special namaz was cancelled after stiff opposition by a section of saints.

Muslim Mahila Manch is the women wing of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, which is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamseva­k Sangh. Sant Raju Das, who is associated with the Hanumangar­hi temple, led a group of saints to Tulsidas ghat and performed dugdhabhis­hek with Vedic rituals and recitation of mantras on Saturday. Sant Raju Das had

› We have performed dugdhabhis­hek of the Saryu in protest against wazu performed by three Muslim women in the river SANT RAJU DAS

threatened to commit suicide if Muslims were allowed to perform wazu at the Saryu bank.

“We have performed dugdhabhis­hek of the Saryu in protest against wazu performed by three Muslim women in the river,” said Sant Raju Das.

Murari Das, national joint coordinato­r of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, was coordinato­r of the event. After cancellati­on of the special namaaz, Muslims went to the mazar of Nuhu Alaihissal­am for Quran Khani (recital of Quran). Later, three members of the Muslim Mahila Manch performed wazu at the Saryu riverbank. Pravin Togadia, internatio­nal president of the newly constitute­d Antarrasht­riya Hindu Parishad, had personally called saints of Ayodhya and had urged them to oppose proposed namaz. The saints who performed dugdhabhis­hek on Saturday are believed to be close to Togadia.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? ▪ A section of Ayodhya saints performing dugdhabhis­hek at the Saryu on Saturday.
HT PHOTO ▪ A section of Ayodhya saints performing dugdhabhis­hek at the Saryu on Saturday.

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