Magh Mela 2026: Police stopped the chariot of Swami Avimukteshwarananda, Shankaracharya sitting on strike accused of pushing and shoving

By Samira Vishwas On Jan 18, 2026

Prayagraj, 18 January. During the ongoing Magh Mela in Sangam city, the administration has stopped Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand of Jyotish Peeth from going on the chariot and taking bath in Sangam on the occasion of Mauvi Amavasya. After this, angry Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati sat on strike outside his camp. He said that he will not take bath until the administration takes him for a bath with respect.

Swami Avimukteshwarananda returned without taking a dip in Sangam

Actually, Swami Avimukteshwarananda wanted to go to Sangam Nose with his followers on a chariot while the administration was asking them to go on foot and take bath. Amidst this confrontation, pushing and ruckus, Swami Avimukteshwarananda stood for three hours on the return route near Sangam Watch Tower. Ultimately he returned without taking a dip in the Sangam.

Even after persuasion by Commissioner Soumya Aggarwal, Police Commissioner Joginder Kumar and DM Manish Kumar Verma, when Swami Avimukteshwaranand did not agree, the police started removing him from there forcefully. During this time, the monks and nuns started protesting, which later led to a scuffle.

Heated clash between police personnel and sadhus

There was a heated clash between the police personnel and the sadhus. After this, some sadhus were dragged away by the policemen and removed from there. During this, a heated clash also took place between his followers and the police force. The police have also detained many followers.

Followers allege that Shankaracharya’s chariot was pulled by police personnel in plain clothes and left it a kilometer away from Sangam Nose. This is an insult to Shankaracharya. In this way Swami Avimukteshwarananda returned without taking a bath on Mauni Amavasya. When the police were forcefully removing the sadhus, Shankaracharya appeared very angry.

More than 4.52 crore devotees took a dip in Sangam

Meanwhile, on Mauni Amavasya till late evening, more than 4.52 crore devotees from across the country took a dip of faith in the Sangam. State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath shared this information on his social media handle

Today, on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, more than 4.52 crore devotees took a dip of faith in the sacred Sangam at Tirtharaj Prayag, the holy place of Sanatan culture and paid homage to the eternal tradition of Indian culture.
All the revered saints and sages who have gained the virtue of bathing in Triveni Sangam… pic.twitter.com/CuwCmHy0yq
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 18, 2026

CM Yogi wrote, ‘Today, on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, more than 4.52 crore devotees took a dip of faith in the sacred Sangam at Tirtharaj Prayag, the holy place of Sanatan culture, and paid homage to the eternal tradition of Indian culture. Many congratulations to all the revered saints, religious leaders, devotees and devotees who got the benefit of bathing in Triveni Sangam. Hearty thanks to the police administration, fair management, sanitation workers, voluntary organizations, sailor brothers and all the departments of the state government for the peaceful and successful organization of this holy bathing festival.