https://thewire.in/rights/banjara-kumbh-mela-rss 

Since the early 17th century, members of the Banjara community from across India have been gathering every year at the Pohra Devi shrine in the Washim district of Maharashtra. But this year, attempts are being made to replace the Pohra Devi pilgrimage – considered to be a vital part of the community’s belief system – with a ‘Kumbh Mela’ at Godhri village in Jalgaon, which began on January 25 and will continue until January 30.

Many community members are unhappy about this development and allege that the intention behind the Banjara Kumbh Mela, organised under the patronage of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is to “Hinduise” the nomadic community and woo them into the Hindu fold.

The Maharashtra state government has funded a large part of the six-day festival, spending close to Rs 2 crore just on sanitation for the event organised over 500 acres of land in Jalgaon district. Over 10-12 lakh people from the Banjara community from across India are expected to attend the mela. Senior RSS member Suresh ‘Bhaiyyaji’ Joshi, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis are also expected to attend.

Several rights activists and academics from the community have questioned the state government’s decision to spend the exchequer money on a private event organised for one caste. “Focusing on one community and spending government funds on it is plainly unconstitutional,” alleges Arjun Rathod, a community activist who has been campaigning against the state government and the RSS for attempting to impose “Brahminical practices” on the nomadic community.

by Sukanya Shantha

27/01/2023

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