Prayagraj Magh Mela Witnesses Tense Standoff Over Chariot Procession
A heated confrontation unfolded at the Magh Mela campus in Prayagraj on Sunday. The incident lasted for over three hours and involved police officials and approximately two hundred followers of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand. He is the head of the Jyotirmath, also known as the Jyotish Peeth.
Chariot Movement Sparks Initial Dispute
The trouble began when the followers tried to move Swami Ji's chariot, or palki, towards the Sangam. Police personnel stopped this attempt, leading to immediate friction. A senior police officer provided details on the sequence of events.
"Swami ji, seated on a chariot along with around 200 followers, attempted to proceed towards Sangam Nose. This attempt was unsuccessful as we intervened," the officer stated. "After being stopped, he remained stationed on Vapsi Marg, the return route, for an extended period. This caused significant mismanagement in the area."
Chaos on Mauni Amavasya
The day coincided with Mauni Amavasya, attracting a massive rush of devotees near the Sangam Nose. The officer explained that the crowd density was exceptionally high. "Given the immense crowd, Swami ji and his followers first broke through barriers. They then created a ruckus on Vapasi Marg," he claimed.
Police authorities repeatedly urged the group to proceed towards the Sangam on foot. They emphasized that there was no historical precedent for such a chariot procession within the mela campus. Despite these appeals, Swami Avimukteshwaranand and his followers remained resolute. They insisted on taking the palki forward.
Strict Enforcement of No-Vehicle Policy
Mela police officials clarified the regulations in place. Due to the no-vehicle-zone policy, no permission existed for taking out any vehicle, chowki, or shobha yatra inside the campus. The cops informed the followers about the extreme crowd density. They appealed for cooperation, asking everyone to walk instead.
However, the followers of Swami Avimukteshwaranand were adamant. They wanted to take the chauki from his camp on Triveni Road directly towards the Sangam. This firm stance led to escalating tensions at the site.
Angry Exchanges and Final Outcome
Tension flared visibly as the angry followers argued with police personnel. Accusations of rough handling flew from the followers, resulting in heated verbal exchanges. In response, the police stopped the yatra completely. They removed the followers from the route to restore order.
Ultimately, the Shankaracharya returned to his camp without taking the holy dip at the Sangam. The three-hour standoff concluded with the procession being halted and the crowd dispersed by police action.
