MAHAKUMBH NAGAR: A controversy has erupted over anchor and influencer Harsha Richhariya sitting on a chariot alongside seers during the Chhavani Pravesh procession by members of the Niranjani Akhara, a ritual marking their formal entry into the Maha Kumbh.Swami Anand Swaroop, chief of Kali Sena, has objected to her conduct, stating that the Kumbh is organised to spread knowledge and spirituality and should not be used as a publicity event by models.Images of Richhariya in saffron robes during the Kumbh had circulated in various media outlets, but she later reportedly clarified that she was not a ‘sanyasin’ (ascetic).Mahakumbh: Renouncing professions, luxuries, many tread on sanatan path seeking spiritual fulfillmentPresident of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), Mahant Ravindra Puri, however, downplayed the issue, saying wearing saffron clothes is not a crime and that the young woman had taken ‘mantra deeksha’ from a Mahamandaleshwar of the Niranjani Akhara.In a Facebook post in Hindi on Wednesday, Swami Anand Swaroop said, “Today, during ‘bhojan prasad’ at Niranjani Akhara with the president of the Akhara Parishad, Mahant Ravindra Puri ji, I said that the Kumbh is not organised to showcase models. The Kumbh is meant for the flow of ‘jap’ (chanting), ‘tap’ (penance) and ‘gyaan’ (knowledge). Therefore, please take action against this inappropriate act.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anchor harsha richhariya (@host_harsha)
Mahant Ravindra Puri referred to Richhariya as Harshita and said she had come to take ‘deeksha’ from one of the Mahamandaleshwars of the Niranjani Akhara.”She is a model, and remains highlighted on social media. She was wearing a Ram Naami cloth (‘vastra’). Our tradition is that whenever there is an event of Sanatan, our youngsters wear saffron clothes. This is not a crime. We have a tradition – there are seers for one day, five days, seven days. The young woman had taken ‘mantra deeksha’ from a Mahamandaleshwar of the Niranjani Akhara. She has not become a ‘sanyasin’ (women seer), and she has also said that she is not a ‘sanyasin’ and has only taken ‘mantra deeksha’. She was sitting on the ‘rath’, and people started targeting her,” Mahant Ravindra Puri said.Explaining ‘mantra deeksha’, Mahant Ravindra Puri said, “Mantras like ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ are whispered in the ear. Such practices also take place during marriages.”
Source link
