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1 crore devotees, ‘Kinnar Akhara’ take holy dip on Paush Purnima at Kumbh

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Varanasi, Jan 21 (IANS) The Kinnar Akhada (a group of transgender saints) participated in the Kumbh Mela’s ritual dip in the Ganga on Monday at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj this year.

Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Lakshmi Narayanan Tripathi said that transgenders were badly exploited in the society and even their parents were forced to live a disgraceful life but this year, transgenders have been provided with a forum to live a dignified life with rituals.

“Transgenders have been part of Sanatan Dharm and they have been given respectful status in religious epics and books of Hindu mythology,” said Tripathi.

“The Akhara has provided a forum to transgenders to pursue a dignified life with religious rituals. Juna Akhara, a traditional powerful Akhara of Sanyasi saints and seers, has given the recognition to Kinnar Akhara and has allowed them to be part of ‘Shahi Snan’ procession,” he said in a statement.

After shashi snan, the second bathing festival Paush purnima of the Kumbh also concluded in a peaceful way on Monday with around 1 crore devotees taking a holy dip.

” As many as 1.7 crore devotees took a holy dip. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the Mela area. However, three devotees including an Italian woman were saved from drowning at Sangam area by NDRF personnel,” Chief Executive Officer of Prayagraj Kumbh Vijay Kiran Anand said.

Lakhs of devotees congregated on the banks of Sangam – the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati — to take a holy dip. The bathing started from midnight and continued till late evening. Elaborate security arrangements were place for bathing, Ministry of Culture said in a statement.

The month-long Paush Purnima to Maghi Purnima Kalpvas also began from Monday. Devotees spend one month on the banks of the Sangam worshipping their lords and taking a holy dip in the Ganga and Sangam during the Kalpvas.

About 8 km long Ghat was developed at Sangam for Monday’s bathing. Similarly 35 bathing baths are developed on the banks of Ganga.

“Devotees should come to the ghats near their sectors to avoid huge rush at Sangam,” said CEO Prayagraj Mela Authority.

DIG Mela KP Singh, meanwhile, has said that spotters have been deployed in Mela area to act against anti-social elements and criminals.

The next bathing festival of Mauni Amavasya will be celebrated on February 4. It is considered the most important bathing festival of Kumbh.

Kinnar Akhara has set up a huge camp at Sector 12 at Prayagraj Kumbh and it attracts hundreds of thousand devotees on a daily basis to seek blessings of the akhara members.

Akhara’s camp will continue till Mahashivaratri, contrary to traditional Akharas who leave the Mela after taking third Shahi Snan on Basant Panchami.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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