Juna Akhara expels mahant for accepting 13-year-old girl as ‘donation’ | India News

The incident provoked objections from senior saints and a meeting of senior Akhara officials.

AGRA: Juna Akharathe largest Hindu monastic order in India, has expelled Mahant Kaushal Giri for seven years after he accepted a 13-year-old girl as a “donation” from his family and initiated her as a sadhvi (monk) before the Kumbh MelaThe first bath ritual. Senior akhara officials said the girl was returned to her family in Agra on Friday afternoon and they have now set a minimum age limit of 22 years for initiating women as sanyasins.
Giri, however, claimed that the girl’s father voluntarily offered his daughter to Akhara, citing his desire to renounce worldly life. “Her parents had no objections. After completing the Dharmadhwaja and Pindadaana rituals, she would formally embrace sainthood,” Giri said.
The incident sparked objections from senior saints and a meeting of senior Akhara officials, including patron saint Srimahant Giri, spokesperson Narayan Giri, fair in-charge Mohan Bharti and others, was called to address the issue. They unanimously decided to expel Giri for violating “ethical and legal” norms.
“The girl is a minor and this was unacceptable. We decided that she should be sent home. While we will adopt an abandoned baby if we find one, we will not take in women under the age of 22 under normal circumstances. The age limit ensures “A girl who seeks sainthood is mature enough to make an informed decision. Children cannot be accommodated in our camps, and we have asked the authorities concerned to intervene and ensure that such incidents do not occur again,” said spokesperson Narayan Giri.
An Akhada official said that as per rules, the parents of a minor must first provide an initial consent document for her to become a sanyasin. After six months, a final consent document is required, along with the minor’s consent, to ensure that the decision is not made impulsively or in anger.
The girl’s father, who owns a sweet shop in Agra, took her and her sister to Prayagraj on December 26, where they helped in camp services under Giri at Juna Akhara camp in Sector 20. His relatives said that his devotion to Giri began again. Three years ago and they completely trusted him.
The girl’s mother, a housewife, said her association with Giri began when he was conducting religious discourses at the Kali Maa temple in their village. “His narration of the Bhagavad Gita influenced us deeply and we decided to attend the Maha Kumbh due to our devotion towards him,” he said.
However, the girl’s grandfather, Rohtan Singh Dhakre, 65, opposed the decision. “She is not of the right age for this. We did not know that she had joined Akhara and we only found out when the media came to our house,” he said. Her grandmother, Radha Devi, added: “She doesn’t live with us, so we weren’t informed.”
Children’s rights Activist Naresh Paras also condemned the incident and called it a violation of the Juvenile Justice Law. “A child is not an asset that can be donated. Every child between six and 14 years of age has the right to free and compulsory education under the Right to Education Act. This action violates their fundamental rights,” Paras said.
Paras has written to the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), urging immediate intervention. He added that no Akhara is allowed to accept minors as they are not registered educational institutions nor do they comply with child protection laws. “If a child is abandoned by his parents, he must appear before the child welfare committee. The consent of a minor is legally invalid,” he said.