Officer decides 'shahi snan' dates of Rajim Kumbh: Cong

Raipur, Feb 21 (UNI) Who decides the date of 'Shahi Snan' at the much-publicised 'Kumbh Mela' at Rajim in Chhattisgarh? It's not by sadhus, saints or other religious leaders but by an officer on special duty (OSD), the opposition Congress claims.

The matter echoed in the Vidhan Sabha today when Mr Ravindra Choubey (Congress) questioned the reasoning behind propagating the religious congregation at Rajim as 'fifth Kumbh' saying that it was the traditional 'Punni mela' held at the famous Rajiv Lochan temple located near the confluence of Mahanadi, Sondur and Pairi rivers.

''Chhattisgarh's tradition is being propagated in a distorted manner'', he said while initiating the debate on the third supplementary demands of the current fiscal.

''Who told you that it's the fifth Kumbh?'', Mr Choubey asked adding that even the dates for 'Shahi Snan' at the Rajim were decided by an Officer on Special Duty (OSD). He said it was for the sadhus, saints and other religious leaders to decide the date, venue and time of 'Shahi Snan'.

UNI