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NDTV
30-04-2025
- General
- NDTV
Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi's Head Seer Breaks Tradition To Visit Ram Temple
Ayodhya: Mahant Prem Das became the first head seer of Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi to step outside the revered temple's premises in over 300 years as he led a procession to the Ram temple on Akshaya Tritiya festival. Das visited the newly consecrated Ram Temple in a grand 'Shahi Juloos' (royal procession) in a historic and emotional departure from a centuries-old religious tradition that forbade the head priest from ever leaving the 52-bigha premises of Hanuman Garhi during his lifetime. Thousands of Naga Sadhus, devotees and disciples joined the procession, which featured elephants, horses, camels and musical performances by local troupes. The spiritual journey began at the banks of the Saryu River, where Mahant Prem Das and others performed a ritual bath, before proceeding to offer prayers at the Ram Temple. "This tradition has been followed for 288 years, since 1737," said Mahant Sanjay Das, a senior seer of Hanuman Garhi. "The Mahant's role is to devote himself entirely to Lord Hanuman. Once he is anointed to the seat, he lives and dies within the temple premises. His body can only leave after death." Mahant Ramkumar Das, chief of the Nirvani Akhara, told PTI that due to the presiding seer's deep desire to visit the Ram Temple, he was granted this "once-in-a-lifetime permission". According to the constitution of Hanuman Garhi, formalised in 1925, these traditions were recognised and enforced by the Naga Sadhus. "Even in civil matters, the courts have respected this tradition," said Sanjay Das. "If needed, a representative of the Akhara appears in court. In fact, in the 1980s, the court itself held sessions inside Hanuman Garhi to record statements from the Mahant," he said. However, the recent decision was not taken lightly. It came only after the 'Panch' (governing members) of the Nirvani Akhara -- the esteemed religious body that oversees HanumanGarhi -- unanimously permitted the Mahant's wish to visit Ram Lalla's temple. Mahant Ramkumar Das, chief of the Nirvani Akhara, said, "The presiding seer's deep desire to visit the Ram Temple was heartfelt. After ritual discussions and overwhelming spiritual consensus, the Akhara granted this once-in-a-lifetime permission." The procession carried the Akhara's 'Nishaan' (insignia) with immense reverence and symbolism. Alongside the Mahant were large groups of temple disciples, local shopkeepers and worshippers who saw the event as a powerful expression of religious unity and devotion.
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Ayodhya: Presiding seer of Hanuman Garhi steps out after centuries to visit Ram Temple
BREAKING A centuries-old tradition, the Chief Priest of Hanuman Garhi Temple – Prem Das – on Wednesday left the premises of the temple to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. A grand procession was taken out in a horse-driven chariot and a large number of devotees and sadhus took part. Amidst the sounds of trumpets, chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' and flower petals being showered at various points, the procession comprising Panch of Nirvani Akhara as well as Naga Sadhus, first took snan (holy bath) in the Saryu River and from there the procession left for Ram Temple. 'The Shobha Yatra left Hanuman Garhi around 7:30 am with Sadhus of all the Pattis. They took bath at Naya Ghat and then left for darshan at Ram Janmabhoomi, where it ended. Police force was deployed for security at various points and traffic diversions were done in advance for the same,' said Madhuban Singh, Superintendent of Police, Ayodhya. Ayodhya Mayor Girish Tripathi said it was a 'matter of pride' for the residents of Ayodhya as they got to witness the 'historic moment.' 'Hanuman Garhi is the chief seat of Nirvani Akhara. It is a belief regarding Gaddi Nasheen that he does not leave his Hanuman Garhi premises. But, taking inspiration from Lord Hanuman, he (Das) visited Ram Lalla after taking bath at Saryu river,' said Tripathi. 'There is joy among the people of Ayodhya that they witnessed this historic moment. The Shobha Yatra was welcomed at various locations along the route.' After taking bath at Saryu River amidst chanting of mantras, Das said that he also observed a few minutes' silence after taking bath to pray for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. Accompanied by sadhus and chief functionaries of Nirvani Akhara, he offered 56 different 'Bhog' (offerings) at the Ram Temple.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Chief priest steps out of Hanuman Garhi, visits Ram temple in ‘Shahi Juloos'
letters@ : A nearly 300-year-old tradition was broken at Ayodhya's famous Hanuman Garhi temple for the first time in nearly 300 years when the chief priest (Gaddi Nasheen) Mahant Prem Das stepped out of the premises on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on Wednesday and visited the Ram temple in a procession after taking a ritual bath in the Saryu river. According to the centuries' old tradition of the Hanuman Garhi temple, it is mandatory for the presiding Mahant (chief priest) to never leave the premises, which is defined as an area of 52 bighas, for the rest of his life after being ordained to the position of Gaddi Nasheen. But on Wednesday, riding on elephants, horses and camels, hundreds of Naga sadhus took part in the 'Shahi Juloos' (procession) led by Mahant Prem Das with the Nirvani Akhara's 'Nishaan' (insignia) to the accompaniment of music and dances by local performers who followed. The departure from tradition came after the Panch (members) of Nirvani Akhara, which manages the Hanuman Garhi temple, were moved by the desire of the chief priest to visit the Ram temple and they unanimously granted him permission to do so. Mahant Sanjay Das, a senior mahant (priest) of Hanuman Garhi temple, said: 'The tradition (of the chief priest not stepping out of the premises) has been going on for 288 years (since 1737). This is because the head priest is dedicated solely to serving Lord Hanuman. The constitution of Hanuman Garhi was documented in 1925, where the traditions that had been followed since the beginning were formally recognised by the Naga Sadhus. After assuming the position, the head priest resides within the Hanuman Garhi complex. They serve Lord Hanuman there, and their only their body can leave the premises (after death).' Sanjay Das, a senior mahant (priest) of Hanuman Garhi said, 'The civil court also respects this rule of Hanuman Garhi. In any civil lawsuit, the representative of the Akhara appears in court instead of the presiding Mahant. If necessary, the court itself comes to Hanuman Garhi to record the statement of the presiding Mahant.' Though the distance between Hanuman Garhi temple and Ram temple is just about 1 km, the entire Wednesday's event lasted about seven hours with the procession covering a distance of about 6 km. The procession first reached the banks of the Saryu River (2 km from Hanuman Garhi). Thereafter, the chief priest and Naga Sadhus took a ritual bath in the river. Next, the procession moved towards the Ram temple, said Mahant Ramkumar Das, the chief of Nirvani Akhara. The procession returned to Hanuman Garhi from Ram Temple at around 1 pm.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Presiding seer of Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi steps out after centuries to visit Ram Temple
Ayodhya, Mahant Prem Das became the first head seer of Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi to step outside the revered temple's premises in over 300 years as he led a procession to the Ram temple on Akshaya Tritiya festival. Das visited the newly consecrated Ram Temple in a grand 'Shahi Juloos' in a historic and emotional departure from a centuries-old religious tradition that forbade the head priest from ever leaving the 52-bigha premises of Hanuman Garhi during his lifetime. Thousands of Naga Sadhus, devotees and disciples joined the procession, which featured elephants, horses, camels and musical performances by local troupes. The spiritual journey began at the banks of the Saryu River, where Mahant Prem Das and others performed a ritual bath, before proceeding to offer prayers at the Ram Temple. "This tradition has been followed for 288 years, since 1737," said Mahant Sanjay Das, a senior seer of Hanuman Garhi. "The Mahant's role is to devote himself entirely to Lord Hanuman. Once he is anointed to the seat, he lives and dies within the temple premises. His body can only leave after death." Mahant Ramkumar Das, chief of the Nirvani Akhara, told PTI that due to the presiding seer's deep desire to visit the Ram Temple, he was granted this "once-in-a-lifetime permission". According to the constitution of Hanuman Garhi, formalised in 1925, these traditions were recognised and enforced by the Naga Sadhus. "Even in civil matters, the courts have respected this tradition," said Sanjay Das. "If needed, a representative of the Akhara appears in court. In fact, in the 1980s, the court itself held sessions inside Hanuman Garhi to record statements from the Mahant," he said. However, the recent decision was not taken lightly. It came only after the 'Panch' of the Nirvani Akhara the esteemed religious body that oversees HanumanGarhi unanimously permitted the Mahant's wish to visit Ram Lalla's temple. Mahant Ramkumar Das, chief of the Nirvani Akhara, said, "The presiding seer's deep desire to visit the Ram Temple was heartfelt. After ritual discussions and overwhelming spiritual consensus, the Akhara granted this once-in-a-lifetime permission." The procession carried the Akhara's 'Nishaan' with immense reverence and symbolism. Alongside the Mahant were large groups of temple disciples, local shopkeepers and worshippers who saw the event as a powerful expression of religious unity and devotion.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
World's largest religious gathering in India underway as hundreds of millions visit 45-day festival
The Maha Kumbh Mela, or Great Pitcher Festival, is drawing hundreds of millions of pilgrims and tourists to India. The 45-day festival, which began Jan. 13, is the largest gathering of humanity in the world. It is expected to draw approximately 420 million. That is about 200 times the number of Muslim pilgrims who participated in the annual Hajj in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, last year. It is so large it can be seen from outer space. According to Hindu scriptures, gods and demons once churned the cosmic ocean in search of the nectar of immortality. During this struggle, drops of nectar fell at four sacred sites. The spiritual Hindu festival takes place once every 12 years at one of those four locations. This year, it is being held in the city of Prayagraj in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This year's event is considered particularly special because it aligns with a rare, once-in-a-century celestial configuration. World's Largest Religious Gathering Begins In India, Hundreds Of Millions Of Hindus Expected To Attend Throngs of devotees have been descending on northern India to take a dip at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. Hindus, who account for nearly 80% of India's more than 1.4 billion people, believe a third invisible river, the mythical Saraswati, also meets at the confluence. Read On The Fox News App Legend holds that a dip in the holy waters will cleanse them of sins and grant salvation. Bathing occurs daily, but on the most auspicious dates, Naga Sadhus, Hindu ascetics, head into the holy rivers at dawn. Ava Poonawala, a resident of Mumbai, India, made the journey not as a pilgrim, but to "witness the world's largest religious event in our lifetime," she explained to Fox News Digital. She took an early 6 a.m. dip just as the sun was rising. After her chilly dip, she expressed feeling invigorated and at peace. "Everyone seemed to be there with one purpose," she told Fox News Digital. "And that was spiritual awakening." The Maha Kumbh Mela is a massive undertaking by any standard. To accommodate the tens of thousands of holy men, pilgrims and tourists, authorities have built a sprawling tent city on the riverbanks. It's equipped with more than 150,000 tents and toilets, 3,000 kitchens and 11 hospitals, as well as roads, electricity, water and communication towers. It covers some 15 square miles. About 50,000 security personnel, supported by artificial intelligence-powered cameras, are stationed in the city to maintain law and order and manage the crowds. "I was blown away by the incredible magnitude of this event," Poonawala told Fox News Digital. "It's just unimaginable how they put this all together." Stampede That Killed 121 In India Was Caused By Severe Overcrowding And Lack Of Exits, Authorities Say A predawn stampede broke out at the festival last week, reportedly killing roughly three dozen people and injuring many more. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to "devotees who have lost their loved ones" without specifying the number dead. Police reported the stampede occurred as hundreds of millions of pilgrims rushed to dip in sacred waters on the most auspicious day of the festival. Uttar Pradesh's chief minister said some devotees attempted to jump crowd management barricades, triggering the crush. The Kumbh's grand processions, which had been curtailed last week, have since resumed. Prior to the stampede, the festival saw a brief but large fire, which was quickly extinguished. At Least 30 Dead In Stampede At The Massive Maha Kumbh Festival In India, Police Say For many, the marvel of the Maha Kumbh Mela lies neither in the religious nor spiritual experience, but rather the cultural extravaganza. It not only brings together ash-smeared monks, naked ascetics and priests dressed head-to-toe in saffron. It also attracts tourists with selfie sticks and awed foreigners. Uttar Pradesh has gone to great lengths to promote this year's festival as a tourist event, offering luxury packages and experiences. The government even organized helicopters to shower flower petals on the saints and seers taking a holy dip. The state has allocated more than $765 million for this year's event. The Kumbh has drawn people from all strata of society, whether it be billionaires like Laurene Powell Jobs, the wife of the late Steve Jobs, or athletes like Olympic boxer Mary Kom. Bollywood stars and celebrities like Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and his fiancée, actress Dakota Johnson, have descended on the festival. Even royalty, like King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, have made an appearance. On Wednesday, exactly a week after the stampede, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Prayagraj to take a sacred dip. The Kumbh Mela's popularity has steadily increased in size over the years as improved infrastructure and facilities have attracted more people. This year, for the first time ever, the massive event also boasts being plastic-free and eco-friendly. The festival is a significant test for India to showcase Hinduism and culture, as well as handle tourism and crowd management. "The ground was buzzing at all hours, right through the night into the morning," Poonawala said. "It was so surreal with such purity. I can't even begin to explain it."Original article source: World's largest religious gathering in India underway as hundreds of millions visit 45-day festival
