Seers at the 2025 Mahakumbh Mela must now present their Aadhaar or voter ID as proof of identity to enter the Kumbh area. This action is one in a set of choices made by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), the organization in charge of all 13 Akharas (spiritual orders), in order to stop fake godmen from entering. Mahakumbh Mela is set to occur at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj on January 13, 2025.
In addition, the ABAP has requested for the Urdu terms linked to Kumbh to be renamed and for “non-Sanatanis” to be prohibited from establishing food stalls. Numerous nations are engaged in armed conflict. Furthermore, the powers that are disparaging Sanatan Dharma are actively searching or lurking. It is our duty to prevent the anti-Sanatan forces and work with the district administration to maintain security at Mahakumbh Mela. Therefore, it has been determined that Aadhaar or ID proof will be required for the saints and seers participating in Mahakumbh Mela.
Ravindra Puri, chief of ABAP, announced during a recent meeting at Niranjani Akhada that all Akharas must provide a list of their associated saints to the district administration and law enforcement to prevent ‘Farzi Babas’ from entering the Kumbh. During the meeting, all Akharas’ Mahamandaleshwars were present and they were instructed to provide ID cards to their saints. It was agreed that the list of saints would be given to the district administration.
The ABAP has previously spoken out against fake godmen on multiple occasions. In July 2024, the highest governing body had urged for measures to be taken against fake saints and holy persons nationwide, after the deadly stampede in Hathras resulted in 121 deaths. A stampede occurred on July 2, 2024, at a ‘satsang’ event led by the self-proclaimed godman Suraj Pal, who is also known as Narayan Sakar Hari or Bhole Baba, in Mughal Garhi located in the Hathras district. The organization also highlighted the importance of taking strong measures to prevent these individuals from damaging the reputation of spiritual activities and endangering the safety of followers.
During the most recent gathering, additional alterations were suggested as well. Among the numerous suggestions, altering the Urdu terminology linked to Mahakumbh Mela Mela was the most favored option. It was suggested that the terms ‘Shahi’ and ‘Peshwai’, often associated with the Kumbh Mela, should be substituted with names inspired by Sanatan Dharma. We had presented the proposal to UP CM Yogi Adityanath for his ultimate approval. We appreciate him for taking our proposal into consideration. Ravindra Puri stated that Urdu terms like ‘Shahi Snan’ and ‘Peshwai’ will be substituted with Hindi terms like ‘Rajsi Snan’ and ‘Chhavni Pravesh’.
He mentioned that the ban on non-Sanatanis opening food stalls at the Kumbh is a result of various recent incidents like mixing urine in juice and spitting in food. Defiling things will not be acceptable at Mahakumbh Mela, as all Hindus will be in attendance. The ABAP also mentioned that a formal decision to prohibit non-Sanatanis from establishing food stalls will be made post-Diwali and presented to Adityanath for his authorization. Furthermore, the ABAP has specified that only adherents of Sanatan Dharma, such as barbers, carpenters, cobblers, and even staff on duty, are to be assigned to work at the Kumbh. The top organization also recommended that followers only buy items from stores that show the owner’s name.
The Parishad stated that worshippers should make sure there is an idol or picture of deities in the shop, dhaba, or restaurant before using their services. The authorities have also called for a prohibition on the selling of alcohol and meat in close proximity to the Kumbh region. Mahakumbh Mela, a sacred Hindu festival occurring once every 12 years in key Indian cities such as Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nasik, and Ujjain, signifies cleansing and spiritual rejuvenation via ceremonial dips in sacred rivers. Millions across the globe are drawn to it in search of spiritual enlightenment and forgiveness for their sins. Around 40 crore devotees are expected to attend the 2025 Prayagraj Mahakumbh Mela, which will be held from January 13 to February 26.