Prayagraj,

22 Jan (HS): In a new dispute between Magh Mela officials and Swami

Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the administration has sent him with a second

notice, asking why the land and amenities provided to his institution here

should not be annulled and why he should not be permanently prevented from visiting

the fair. The row erupted on Sunday when Saraswati allegedly broke through a

barricade at the reserved bridge number 2 on 'Mauni Amavasya' (auspicious day

for taking holy dip) while riding in a horse carriage and joined the crowd,

despite severe traffic at the time when only pedestrian movement was permitted.

According to the Prayagraj Mela Authority's notification, the unruly behaviour of

Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati aides made crowd management extremely

difficult for the mela police and administration.

Swami

Ji's arrival raised the risk of a stampede and a significant loss of life,

according to the report. The administration questioned why, in light of the

occurrence, the land and facilities supplied to his institution should not be

revoked, and why he should not be barred from visiting the mela indefinitely. In

response to the notice, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati's media in-charge,

Shailendra Yogiraj, said on Thursday that the government was acting out of

vendetta. He said that the notice was posted behind the Shankaracharya camp

pandal and dated January 18, and that they learned about it only after being

notified by an administrative staff member.

Previously,

the mela administration sent Saraswati a separate letter citing a Supreme Court

ruling in a civil appeal, which said that no religious leader can be legally

anointed as the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth until the case is resolved. The

previous notification indicated that no religious leader has been anointed as

the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth so far. However, Saraswati presented

himself as the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth on boards posted at his camp

during the 2025-“26 Prayagraj Magh Mela.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi