Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s Exit From Magh Mela Sparks Political and Religious Row

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A controversy broke out at Magh Mela after Swami Avimukteshwaranand left without taking the holy dip, prompting calls for an apology. The Prayagraj authorities claimed the seer's chariot procession was stopped to prevent a possible stampede in the crowded area, and he was asked to proceed on foot like other devotees.

Magh Mela Controversy

The Shankaracharya and his supporters had alleged that they were stopped from taking a holy dip at Sangam in Prayagraj on Mauni Amavasya (January 18), a day considered to be auspicious during the Magh Mela. The seer staged a protest and eventually left the city on Wednesday (January 28, 2026) without taking a dip, stating that the incident shook him deeply.

"The Prayagraj officials did not expect the Shankaracharya to suddenly leave the Magh Mela and go to Varanasi. They thought he would leave after the bath on Magh Purnima, that is, February 1, and they would be able to persuade him by then," said his media in-charge, Yogiraj Sarkar.

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Step from UP Govt.

After Shankaracharya arrived in Varanasi on Wednesday, two senior officials from Lucknow contacted him and requested him to return to the Magh Mela and take a dip in the upcoming Magh Purnima. 

Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj administration clarified that they are ready to apologize to Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. 

The Shankaracharya had then put two conditions, including a written apology from the officials responsible for the incident. The second condition was that the protocol must be followed for all four Shankaracharyas.

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The administration had even offered to take him to the Sangam in a palanquin in the presence of senior officials, he claimed, but he said that he declined the offer since his heart was filled with grief and anger.

Adityanath vs Shankaracharya

Without naming the Shankaracharya, Adityanath had warned people to be cautious of 'Kalanemi', referring to a demon from the Ramayana who disguised himself as a saint to trick Lord Hanuman. In his response, the Shankaracharya said Yogi Adityanath was now a politician and should leave matters of religion to seers like him.

Akhilesh Yadav Attacks Adityanath 

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav launched an attack against the ruling BJP, accusing it of hurting Sanatan traditions.

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In a post on X, Yadav said the BJP's "arrogance" broke a tradition that has continued since time immemorial. "Jagadguru Shankaracharya ji leaving the Magh Mela on the sacred land of Prayagraj without taking a holy bath is an extremely ominous incident," he said.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister claimed the entire Sanatan community was not only hurt but also gripped by a sense of fear. "The global Sanatan society is deeply pained and filled with an uncertain sense of apprehension," he said.

Final Thoughts

The Mela administration alleged that the Shankaracharya and his supporters broke a barricade on a pontoon bridge and moved towards the ghats, creating serious difficulties for the police in managing the situation. 

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Following the incident, there was an exchange of allegations between Swami Avimukteshwaranand and the police administration.

Time will tell if the seer accepts the apology and returns for the holy dip.