Mumbai
A new controversy has come to light over the annual pilgrimage of the Marhi Kanifanath Temple located in Pathardi taluka in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra. The villagers here have decided that Muslim traders will be prevented from joining the journey. This journey starts from Holi every year to Gudi Padwa.
Villagers claim: disregard traditions
Villagers say that special customs are followed in this journey for a month. During this time, the deity is applied oil and people remain in the process of mourning. They avoid fried food, sleep on the floor and do not celebrate anyone. Villagers say that some traders, especially Muslim traders, do not follow these traditions, which hurts their feelings. For this reason, now he has decided to ban Muslim traders in this visit.
Kanifnath Devasthan Trust’s statement
Sanjay Markad, president of Kanifnath Devasthan Trust, supported the decision that Muslim traders do not respect our customs. This is a sensitive time for us, and traditions are ignored by these traders, hurting the sentiments of the devotees. He linked this decision to the ban imposed on Muslim traders at Kumbh Mela, saying, “Just as Muslim traders are not allowed in the Kumbh Mela, we have now decided to impose a similar ban on Kanifnath Yatra.”
