Pragya Thakur sets up new akhara, anoints herself as head

ALLAHABAD: Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur established a new akhara, Bharat Bhakti Akhada, at Kumbh on Tuesday. She also announced herself as the first Acharya Mahamandaleshwar and the head of the akhara. With this, Pragya Thakur, who was arrested in connection with the September 29, 2008, bomb blasts in Malegaon but later acquitted of all charges by the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, becomes the first woman of the country to head an akhara.
Her 'pattabhishek' (coronation) ceremony was performed by members of the Akhil Bhartiya Kashi Vidhyat Parishad and some seers.

Sadhvi Thakur was earlier a member of Juna Akhara and would now be known as Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Purnchetananand Giri and becomes the first woman to head an ‘akhara’ in the country.



The Bharat Bhakta Akhara has been established by the Akhil Bhartiya Kashi Vidhyat Parishad but not yet recognised by the Akhara Parishad, the apex body of the 13 akharas of the country.

The ceremony took place at Divya Prem Seva mission, located on Kumbh Mela campus on the occasion of Maghi Purnima.

President of the new akhara Jaishankar Lal Tripathi confirmed sadhvi’s coronation. “Among several objectives of our akhara, the prominent include protecting the Sanatan Dharma, backing the soldiers fighting on the borders, removing the differences of caste, creed, religion, etc., from the society,” he said.

President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), Swami Narendra Giri, said: “Establishing a new akhara has now become a fashion, we would welcome her if she decides to come under the umbrella of the 13 established akharas as was done by the Kinnar Akhara, but there is no question of recognizing her new akhara by the Akhara Parishad.”

Chief patron of Juna Akhara Mahant Hari Giri said: “India is an independent country and everyone is free to establish an akhara... there are around 5,500 akharas and around 568 political parties, and this becomes an additional one.”

On whether she would continue to be a member of Juna Akhara, he said, “She is the ‘shishya’ (disciple) of our ‘achraya’ Pithadhishwar Avedeshanand. Now, it is up to him to take the call. Moreover, the Akhara Parishad would decide the future of this new akhara.”

The sadhvi, who was a member of the Juna Akhara, was expelled after charges were framed against her in the blast case. Last November, Juna Akhara had announced that it had taken her back into its fold “as she has been given clean chit by NIA in the blast case”.

Besides making Sadhvi Pragya Thakur as Acharya Mahamandaleshwar, the new akhara has also appointed several office-bearers, including Kameshwar Upadhyay as national general secretary.