Nirmohis assure to keep Shahi Snan of April 27 a low-key affair

The Nirmohi Akhara, which had been resisting the move to keep Kumbh Mela a “symbolic” affair, appeared to have softened their stand following a call from Union home minister Amit Shah. It has “assured” that the April 27 Shahi Snan will be a low-key event.

“Yesterday, I spoke with home minister Amit Shah and assured him that we will follow all Covid protocols and keep the gathering small. I even assured Shah that we will follow only the essential rituals. We have to keep the Covid situation in our mind,” Nirmohi Akhara, a group of ‘vairagies’ (the recluse), chief Rajendra Dasji told ET from Haridwar.

The crowds at the camps of ‘vairagies’ have reduced to 50% of their original strength of about 40,000. The number of devotees in the Kumbh Mela zone has fallen drastically over the past few days.


Five of the 13 akharas have already called off their Kumbh participation. These five akharas — Sri Panchayati Akhara Niranjani, Anand, Joona, Agni and Aahwan — are of the ‘sanyasi’ order. Most of them completed their bathing rituals during the first two ‘Snans’. “We are in touch with the rest of the akharas for keeping the Kumbh symbolic,” Akhara Parishad general secretary Hari Giri told ET.

Even the strength of police personnel in the Kumbh Mela area has been reduced. Currently, 40 companies of central paramilitary forces are camping in the Mela zone, besides PAC jawans and civil police.

Replying to a question on the stand taken by the ‘vairagis’, SSP (Mela) Janmejay Khanduri said: “It all depends on their decisions. We have requested them to keep the size small and follow Covid protocols.”