Now Reading: Yashwant Sinha dismayed by politicised Kanwar Yatra of today
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Yashwant Sinha dismayed by politicised Kanwar Yatra of today
Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha has expressed dismay over the transformation of the Kanwar Yatra from a quiet, personal pilgrimage into an aggressive, politicised spectacle. The Federal reports that Sinha, who undertook…
The Story in Brief
Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha has expressed dismay over the transformation of the Kanwar Yatra from a quiet, personal pilgrimage into an aggressive, politicised spectacle. The Federal reports that Sinha, who undertook the Sultanganj-Deoghar yatra for five years in the late 1970s, recalled a journey marked by humility and discipline. He described how a Muslim caretaker once refused to serve eggs to him and friends, insisting they walk the 100 km to fulfil their commitment.
Sinha believes the yatra has now moved far from its spiritual roots, with religion becoming increasingly coarsened by politics. He argues that governments have facilitated this shift, turning a private act of devotion into a public assertion of identity. The interview covers the yatra's changing social decorum, the role of the state, and the growing 'lumpenisation' of religious practice in parts of North India.
The Indian Opinion
The Kanwar Yatra story repeats a tired script: the old days were pure, now everything is 'lumpenised'. But that framing ignores agency. Lakhs of devotees still walk barefoot, and many choose the spectacle. The real question is why governments, from both parties, compete to sponsor religious processions. Watch for the number of official pandals and police bands at the next yatra, that will tell you who is really driving the change.
Source: thefederal.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
