Prayagraj’s Magh Mela turns controversial as Swami Avimukteshwaranand may face a permanent ban after allegedly breaking barriers on Mauni Amavasya. Administration issues second notice; religious leaders are divided over the move.
Avimukteshwaranand may be barred after second notice
Prayagraj: The clash between Swami Avimukteshwaranand and the Magh Mela administration is intensifying. The administration has issued a second notice to the Swami, giving him 48 hours to respond, warning that his actions have disrupted the mela’s arrangements and that he could be permanently barred from participating.
The notice was posted behind his camp, further escalating the controversy.
According to officials, the controversy stems from an incident on January 18, Mauni Amavasya. Swami Avimukteshwaranand reportedly broke the barriers on the pontoon bridge reserved for emergency access and moved towards the Sangam in a horse-drawn carriage without permission.
The administration stated that the area was densely crowded at the time, and his actions could have caused a stampede, severely affecting the mela’s safety and arrangements.
The second notice clarifies that if a satisfactory response is not submitted within 24 hours, the land and other facilities allocated to the Swami’s organization could be revoked. In addition, he may be barred from entering the mela area in the future.
Officials also objected to a board in the Swami’s camp where he refers to himself as a Shankaracharya. The notice states this may violate the Supreme Court’s October 14, 2022 order. A previous notice had already been issued regarding the same issue, to which Avimukteshwaranand submitted an eight-page response.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s media representative, Shailendra Yogiraj, accused the administration of acting out of vindictiveness. He claimed the second notice was backdated and did not provide sufficient time to respond. Yogiraj added that a reply has been prepared and will soon be submitted to the authorities.
Jagadguru Ramabhadracharya supported the administration’s stance, stating that no injustice has been done to the Swami. He emphasized that there is no rule requiring a palanquin for Ganga snan (ritual bath) and all saints can proceed on foot.
Meanwhile, two other Shankaracharyas-Swami Sadanand Maharaj of Dwarka Peeth and Swami Nischalanand Saraswati of Puri Govardhan Peeth expressed support for Avimukteshwaranand. Swami Sadanand Maharaj called on the administration to apologize, describing the action as an abuse of power, while Swami Nischalanand alleged that the government seeks control over religious leadership.
