Prayagraj: The Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad ( ABAP ) has instructed mahamandaleshwars, mandaleshwars and seers across the country to buy goods from shopkeepers who are followers of the Sanatan dharma and also ask devotees and followers to do the same. The parishad stressed that only Hindu barbers, carpenters and cobblers should be engaged for relevant work. It was also said that goods would be bought only from shops which had a board with the name of the owner.
Along with the name, it would be verified whether there was an idol or picture of gods and goddesses inside the shop, dhaba, or restaurant. The parishad stated that people of a particular religion wanted to end their purity and sanctity. For this, food and drinks, even flowers, prasad, kanthi-mala, etc, used in worship were sold after spitting on them.
Vegetables were dipped in dirty water before being sold. Such cases have come to light across the country. Many videos have been shared via social media.
"In view of this, it was decided to separate ourselves from it," said president of ABAP, mahant Ravindra Puri. In Maha Kumbh , bhandara was organised in the camps of seers of all sects, including akhadas. For bhandara, apart from Hindus, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist shopkeepers were identified in Prayagraj for fruits, vegetables, milk, grains, dona-pattal and kulhar.
Ravindra Puri further said that ABAP was not against any caste or class, but they could not compromise with their purity and tradition. "We were seeing that .