Author: Pramod Kumar
Publication: Organiser
Date: November 20, 2005
URL: http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=105&page=20
Introduction: Shabarikumbh in Dang from February 11 to 13, 2006
People visit the four kumbhs-Haridwar, Ujjain, Nasik and Prayag-to wash off their sins. But in a departure from tradition this time over seven lakh people are scheduled to visit Shabarikumbh in Dang district of Gujarat from February 11 to 13, 2006, to take a collective pledge to work for the welfare of crores of Vanvasis and deprived people of the society. People visiting the Shabarikumbh will not only resolve to eradicate social evils like untouchablity, etc. but will also firmly resolve to bring back the Vanvasis and the deprived sections of the society to the mainstream by starting various service projects among them including schools, dispensaries, vocational training centres, samskar kendras, etc. Not only the well-to-do people of society, but also senior saints of the country will participate in the kumbh to extend their total support to the move. The saints will themselves start various projects among Vanvasis. They will stay and have food with them to spread the message of social harmony.
Shabaridham is about 147 km from Surat (Gujarat) and Nasik (Maharashtra), which will be the entry points for Shabarikumbh. Shabaridham is situated at Chamak Donger hillock of Subir village in Dang district. It is about 34 km from Ahava, the district headquarters of Dang district. It is the place where Lord Rama while searching for his wife Sita had met Shabari, who guided him to meet Sugareev and Hanuman. Three stones on which Rama, Lakshman and Shabari sat are still visible and worshipped there. This forest region is known as ancient Dandakara-yanya. Hindu Koli community and Vanvasis of the region have a lot of faith in Valmiki while the local Bhils have faith in Matanga rishi and his disciple Shabarimata. Local people have constructed a temple at this place, which is known as Shabaridham. People have much faith in the shrine and traditional vanyatras are held in the whole forest region in February every year.
Pampa Sarovar, which is also known as Matang Sarovar, is about seven km before the Shabaridham and the venue of Shabarikumbh is about two km from this Matang Sarovar. It is believed that Matang rishi used to have bath in the pond, which contained the water of seven holy ponds. Lord Rama also had a bath in this pond. It is still a very popular pilgrimage centre for local people and every year on Magh Poornima thousands of people gather here to take a holy dip. Everyone visiting the Shabarikumbh will have a bath in the Matang Sarovar.
The idea of organising Shabarikumbh was given by noted saint Morari Bapu who while delivering Ramkatha in October 2002 at Shabaridham, desirous of organising a big event to boost the morale of the local people. Swami Asimananda, who has been engaged in bringing social and religious awareness in this region and was also instrumental in organising the Ramkatha, took up the issue and by forming a committee decided to organise the kumbh in February next year. Shankaracharya of Karvarpeeth performed bhoomi-poojan ceremony at the place where the main platform for Shabarikumbh will be erected. The Gujarat government has also carried out some developmental works near the Shabaridham, which has enhanced the beauty of the premises.
Apart from Morari Bapu, over 200 senior saints of the country including Swami Satyamitranand, Shri Asharam Bapu, Sadhvi Ritambhara, Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati, VHP president Shri Ashok Singhal, Dr Pravin Togadia, and others will also be present on the occasion. Although, people will come from all parts of the country, majority of them are expected from Gujarat, Mahara-shtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Goa. Out of total estimated seven lakh people, over 75 per cent will be from the Vanvasi communities. According to Shri Swadesh Pal, member of Shabari-kumbh managing committee, a total of 50 townships will be erected at the venue and in each township there will be the arrangement for housing 10,000 to 15,000 people. At least 125 workers will be engaged in the over-all management of the each township.
"The feeling of untouchablity still prevailing in some sections of Hindu society has caused major harm to Vanvasis and also the deprived sections of our society. This is one of the prime reasons that has forced people to get away from their original roots. We the people of the whole Hindu society and also the senior saints of the country have now decided to fully concentrate on the development of these people. People and saints visiting the kumbh will discuss threadbare the modalities to start various service projects among these people. It also includes various means to make these people self-reliant. All people and saints visiting Shabarikumbh will return with the firm resolve that no people belonging to Vanvasi communities or the deprived sections of the society, wherever in the country he/she lives, will suffer from untouchability and the whole Hindu society will stand by them in all circumstances," said Shri Kishorbhai Gavit, president of the Shabarikumbh management committee.
As usual, before any constructive activity is initiated on part of the Hindu society, the destructive forces start opposing it. This has started happening with Shabarikumbh also. Some people have started airing various kinds of misconceptions in the region. But despite that people of the region are enthusiastic about the event and they see it as a ray of hope for the development of their region. Despite the propaganda by vested interests, all five Kings of Dang region have declared their full support to the event. "People in this area had developed some misconceptions but now the problem has been resolved. Earlier, there had been an effort by some people to bring about a divide among the Vanvasis claiming that under the garb of the kumbh, the State government was trying to take over their lands, trees would be felled, there would be epidemics and the entire environment would be badly polluted. Fact is that nothing like that is going to happen," said Raja Tapatrao Pawar of Daher, while talking to mediapersons in Dang recently.
Shri Dhanraj Singh Pawar, the Prince of Varsula, while declaring himself the present heir of Shabarimata, said the organisation of Shabarikumbh was a matter of pride for Vanvasis. Shri Karan Singh Rao of Gadhvi, Shri Trikamrao Pawar of Pimpri and Shri Bhanwar Singh Suryavanshi of Linga also declared their total support to the event.
About 6,000 people from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and some other states will offer their services in arrangements. It is anticipated that about 2.5 lakh people will visit the kumbh everyday.