What Drew Followers To Bhole Baba's Satsang? Mystery Behind Long Lines At His Ashram Revealed

At least 107 people, mostly women, were killed in a stampede at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district on Tuesday. The incident took place at Rati Bhanpur village, where a preacher named Bhole Baba had organized a satsang (religious meeting).

A woman who attended the satsang said it was held in honor of a local guru, Bhole Baba alias Narayan Sakaar Hari or Sakaar Vishwa Hari. The stampede broke out as the crowd began to leave. Reports indicated that followers were prevented from leaving until the self-styled guru's car had left, causing a massive crowd build-up in a small area. Bhole Baba, the self-proclaimed godman, organised the 'satsang' with permission from the Hathras SDM for a 'private event.'

Bhole Baba's Satsang and the Mystery of the Long Lines

Religious preacher Bhole Baba, who came to Hathras for the programme, is a resident of Bahadur Nagar of Patiali in Kasganj district.Bhole Baba is a godman with followers across several states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan, among others.

He is said to have several political connections and has been seen with several leaders on various occasions.

It is said that during Bhole Baba's satsang, a special item called prasad, which was water, was distributed to every follower. Baba's followers believed that drinking this water would cure their problems. The ashram in Patiali village, where Baba held his gatherings, featured a hand pump outside the premises. Long queues often formed as devotees waited to drink water from this pump, believing in its miraculous properties.

In addition to the satsang at Patiali, Narayan Saakar Hari programs are organized every Tuesday in the Aligarh and Hathras districts of western Uttar Pradesh. Thousands of people gather for these events. During these gatherings, thousands of volunteers associated with Bhole Baba make necessary arrangements for the devotees, including providing food and drink. Despite restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bhole Baba gained notoriety by gathering large crowds.