Standoff at the Sangam: Top Hindu seer begins protest after being stopped by police

On January 18, 2026, the occasion of Mauni Amavasya**—when millions descend upon the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers for a ritual bath—Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of the Jyotish Peeth was stopped by police from reaching the waters.

The incident has triggered a sit-in protest (dharna) by the seer, a show-cause notice from the government questioning his credentials, and a fresh political storm in India’s most populous state.

The Flashpoint

The trouble began early Sunday morning at the Magh Mela, a massive annual pilgrimage festival in Prayagraj.

According to witnesses, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand attempted to lead a procession to the Sangam (confluence) seated in his silver palanquin, accompanied by roughly 200 disciples. However, the district administration and police halted the convoy, citing severe crowd congestion and the risk of a stampede.

Officials insisted that the seer proceed on foot or in a vehicle without the full procession, a condition the Shankaracharya rejected as an insult to his monastic tradition.

"They did not just stop us; they humiliated us," the Shankaracharya alleged in a statement later that day. He claimed that police officers manhandled his disciples, alleging that some young Brahmins were "dragged by their hair" during the scuffle.

'I Will Not Bathe'

Furious at the alleged mistreatment, the Shankaracharya returned to his camp in Sector 4 of the fairgrounds and announced a boycott. He declared he would not take the holy dip—a ritually significant act for a pontiff on this day—until the administration offered an unconditional apology.

"If the government thinks they can control Dharma with a stick, they are mistaken," he told reporters. "I am sitting here. I will not eat, I will not bathe, until the dignity of the Shankaracharya institution is restored."

The State Strikes Back

Rather than offering an apology, the administration responded with a bureaucratic offensive. On Monday night, officials served a legal notice to Swami Avimukteshwaranand.

In a move that escalated the conflict, the notice questioned his very right to use the title of "Shankaracharya." Citing ongoing disputes in the Supreme Court regarding the succession of the Jyotish Peeth, the administration asked him to provide proof of his appointment or face legal action for "misleading the public."

A Divided Faith

The incident has split the religious community. The Congress party quickly threw its weight behind the Shankaracharya, calling the police action an "assault on Sanatan Dharma" by the BJP government.

However, other religious figures have sided with the state. Swami Rambhadracharya, another influential Hindu leader, defended the administration, stating, "The police did the right thing. Rules are for everyone. On a day with millions of people, insisting on a palanquin procession is an act of ego, not devotion."

Current Situation

As of today, the standoff continues. The Shankaracharya remains seated outside his tent, refusing to enter the river. His camp has become a rallying point for opposition leaders and unhappy ascetics, while the administration maintains a heavy police presence around his sector. What began as a dispute over a procession route has now mutated into a larger battle over authority: between the ancient power of the monastic orders and the modern rules of the state.