ON SATURDAY, the second day of the ongoing all India council meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, it was unanimously decided to firm up a proposal replacing the Urdu terms ‘Shahi’ and ‘Peshwai,’ commonly associated with the Kumbh Mela, with “names rooted in Sanatan Dharma.” During the three-day meeting, several other resolutions were passed, including a call for enhanced security measures for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in 2025 and a directive for akharas to issue identity cards to sants/sadhus for easier identification. The discussions also covered topics such as “love jihad”, cow slaughter and the safety of sants. Additionally, the council urged the government to consider awarding the Bharat Ratna to senior sants in recognition of their contributions to Sanatan Dharma. Last month, a group of sadhus and seers advocated for changing the term “Shahi Snan” to a name more in line with Sanatan traditions and this matter was brought up for discussion at the Parishad meeting in Prayagraj on Saturday. “Shahi Snan,” or royal bath, signifies the ritualistic bathing of sadhus and devotees …