Will the words ‘Shahi’ and ‘Peshwai’ not be used in Kumbh?
Purna Kumbh is going to be organized from 13 January 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. All kinds of preparations have been started in this regard. Meanwhile, a new debate has gained momentum. After the controversy over the use of the word ‘Shahi’ in the Mahakal Procession, there is now a demand to remove the word from Kumbhsnan as well. Saints have objected to the word ‘shahi’ and termed it against religious traditions.
Following Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s statement about removing the word ‘Shahi’ from Mahakal’s royal procession, Saints have welcomed this statement by taking it in hand. President of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, Chairman of Manasa Devi Mandir Trust and Secretary of Sri Niranjani Panchayati Akhara, Mr. Mahant Ravindrapuri has started the exercise to remove the royal word from the royal bath of Kumbh.
‘The word originated from the Mughal period’
He said that the word Shahi originated from the Mughal period. He has now talked about using the word Rajsi instead of Shahi. The president of the Akhara Parishad said that it was a symbol of imperial slavery. Shahi is an Urdu word. Our ancient Indian culture is Hindi, not Urdu, so the bath name should be Raji instead of Shahi. Meanwhile, Mahamandaleshwar Maharaj of Juna Akhara says, “The Madhya Pradesh government has taken the right step and suggested ‘Majestic Ride’ instead of ‘Shahi Sawari’. Such symbols need to be changed.
A proposal will be sent after the meeting of Saints
The President of the Akhara Parishad further said that when there is a meeting with the Saints and Mahatmas of all the Akharas, the matter will be taken up there as well. A proposal in this regard will be brought in the meeting. After this we together with all saints will offer this proposal in Haridwar, Ujjain, Prayagraj. We read in childhood that Akbar-e-Azam had a royal carriage. All Urdu words should be removed and Hindi words should be used. Such words have no use here. The issue will be discussed in a meeting of all Saints in Prayagraj and thereafter a unanimous proposal will be brought on the issue.
CM Mohan Yadav’s decision
In fact, after a decision of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Saints have asked him to support him. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has removed the word ‘shahi’ from the Shahi ride that will take place on Monday during Baba Mahakal’s Sawan Maas in Ujjain. Instead of ‘Royal Ride’, ‘Royal Ride’ has started to be used. After this, Saints also supported the decision and said that they would send a proposal to change the name of the royal bath held at Kumbh to Rajsi instead of Shahi.
(Reporting by Sunil Pandey/Haridwar)
