Pandas fight over ''right'' to perform puja for Bachchans

Mirzapur, Jan 25 (UNI) The pandas of 'Maa Vidhyavasini' here are a divided lot, with each asserting his ''divine right'' to administer rituals to megastar Amitabh Bachchan's family when they perform Bhagwati puja at the shrine here.

The entire Bachchan family along with former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, who recently got engaged to Abhishek, will attend the early morning Bhagwati puja at the shrine on January 27.

Staking claim to be the Bachchan family's ancestral priest during the rituals, local 'panda' Ramchandra says, ''Amitabh mera khandani yajman hai. Main prashashan se puja karwane ke adhikaar ki guhar lagaunga. Maine Amitabh ki maa Teji Bachachan ko bhi is baare me patra likha hai. (I am the ancestral priest of the Bachchan family and I will request the administration to help me. I have written a letter to Big B's mother Teji Bachchan requesting her help in the issue).'' Ramchandra, popularly known as 'Bargadwale Panda', claims, ''I have the letter written to my family on July 21, 1918, by Amitabh's grandfather Pratap Narayan Bachchan after his visit to Vindhyachal.'' Meanwhile, other 'pandas' have also claimed to be the ancestral priests of the Bachchan family.

The district administration is leaving no stone unturned to resolve the issue quickly as only two days are left for the much-hyped arrival of the Bachchan clan.

Two years ago, a similar dispute between the 'pandas' had arrisen, when the entire Bachchan family came to offer prayers at the ancient shrine.

According to sources, Ash-Abhishek would conduct special prayers amid vedic chants by pandits from Varanasi, who have specially been invited for the puja.

The couple would offer 'sindoor', 'chunri' (cloth) and coconut to Goddess Vindhyavasini.

Samajwadi Party leader and close friend of Bachchan family, Amar Singh would also accompany them, on his 51st birthday.

A 'panda' (priest) on condition of anonymity, said''Vindhyachal me saakshat Maa Jagdamba virajman hain. Unke ashirvad se Aishwayra ka suhag amar ho jayega jo ek har suhagin ka sapna hota hai. (Goddess Jagdamba will bless the couple for their marital life).'' He said Abhishek would fill the 'maang' (the parting of the hair from forehead) of Aishwarya with the 'sindoor' .

This would be the first time since January 14 Ash-Abhishek 'roka' (engagement) ceremony, when both the film actors would be together offering prayers at a temple.

On November 27 last year, Aishwarya and Abhishek had participated in a special puja at the world famous Kashi Vishwanath and Sankatmochan temples in Varanasi, much before the formal announcement of the alliance between the Bollywood heartthrobs.

Sources said several high profile guests, including Jaya Prada, Actor-turned-SP MP from Rampur, industrialist Anil Ambani's wife Tina Ambani and Bollywood actressy Preity Zinta have been invited for the function.

UNI