Tension broke out during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya after a disagreement erupted between the local administration and followers of Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. The incident unfolded at the Sangam Nose, where a massive surge of devotees had gathered for the holy dip, stretching administrative arrangements to the limit.
From the early hours of the day, lakhs of pilgrims poured into the Sangam area, creating intense crowd pressure. In view of the situation, the administration imposed movement restrictions to prevent any untoward incident. During this time, officials stopped Swami Avimukteshwaranand from moving ahead toward the bathing site and requested him to step down from his ceremonial chariot and proceed on foot.
The request, however, did not go down well with his supporters and devotees. They insisted on moving forward together, leading to arguments with the police personnel deployed at the spot. Eyewitnesses said the situation quickly escalated into pushing and shoving, resulting in a brief scuffle between security forces and the followers of the seer.
Following the incident, Swami Avimukteshwaranand refused to take the holy dip and expressed strong displeasure over the conduct of the authorities. Speaking to reporters, he alleged that saints accompanying him were subjected to physical manhandling and claimed that such actions were being carried out on the instructions of higher authorities.
“This is not merely about stopping me. Our saints were mistreated. Such conduct at a religious gathering like the Magh Mela is unacceptable,” he said, adding that the sanctity and dignity of religious leaders must be respected during sacred events.
The police administration, however, denied the allegations of misconduct. Senior officials stated that the steps taken were purely precautionary and aimed at crowd control. According to the police, allowing large groups or ceremonial processions in extremely congested areas could have posed serious safety risks.
“Our priority was the safety of devotees. Given the unprecedented crowd at the Sangam Nose, alternative arrangements were suggested to avoid any accident,” a senior officer said, while clarifying that no serious injuries were reported during the incident.
Despite the brief unrest, the Magh Mela continued peacefully, with millions of devotees taking the holy dip throughout the day. However, the episode sparked a wider discussion on the challenges of managing massive religious gatherings, where administrative responsibility often intersects with religious sentiment.
Social observers and religious scholars have emphasized the need for better coordination between spiritual institutions and the administration to ensure that faith, tradition, and public safety coexist without conflict during such large-scale events.