Most seers to leave for Haridwar Kumbh after Basant Panchami snan

PRAYAGRAJ : A number of seers will leave from the ongoing annual religious fair – Magh Mela – after the holy dip at the Sangam on Basant Panchami (Tuesday). Many of them, including those associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, have started preparing to participate in the Haridwar Kumbh.

Though a huge crowd of pilgrims was witnessed during the ‘snans’ in the past, the number of Kalpwasis was relatively low this Magh Mela. Moreover, after the departure of seers, only a few Kalpwasis will be left in the Mela area.

The seers said though there was still some time left for the ‘shahi snans’ at Haridwar Kumbh, arrangements needed to be made for the ceremony of the formal entry of Akhadas in the city and other rituals that are followed by seers during Haridwar Kumbh.

Shri Mahant Rajendra Das, general secretary, Nirmohi Ani Akhada, said all seers of his monastic order will leave Magh Mela and proceed to Haridwar after the Basant Panchami ‘snan’.

However, yog guru Swami Anand Giri said as Magh Mela camps had been installed, many seers will staill stay on the banks of Sangam till Purnima but a large number will be leaving for Haridwar.

Nevertheless, preparations were in full swing for camping at Haridwar, he added.

A large number of seers will leave for Haridwar as ‘peshwai’ procession of Niranjani Akhada will be held there on March 3. The ‘shahi snan’ of seven akhadas of Shaiv Sampraday is set to take place on March 11.

The ‘nagar pravesh’ of Juna Akhada, Shri Panch Agni and Awahan Akhada at Haridwar Kumbh will take place simultaneously on March 4. Mahant Harigiri, Juna Akhada patron and general secretary of Akhada Parishad, along with other seers, has already reached Haridwar for making arrangements of Haridwar Kumbh.

They inspected the routes of ‘peshwai’ procession on Sunday and decided that this year the procession will be taken out from the highway instead of using the city route at Jwalapur.

Senior seers have sent a message to seers at Magh Mela to proceed to Haridwar after the Basant Panchami ‘snan’.

Mahant Ram Subhagdas of Khak Chowk aka ‘Binauka Baba’ has recently returned from Haridwar while Swami Adhokshanand Devtirth is also in contact with Haridwar district administration.