Ban sought on meat, liquor during yatra

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, May 26

The Teerth Shudhi Chetna Padyatra, being organised under the aegis of the Swami Ramteerth Ashram Samiti that was flagged off from Badrinath on May 21, reached Rudraprayag today.

The yatra aims to create awareness towards banning meat and liquor on the yatra route and near the shrines in the state.

Pandit Vinod Chamoli, secretary of the samiti, accompanied by social activists, also met seer Jyotishapeetheshwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Madhavashram Maharaj who is recuperating at his ashram in Rudraprayag.

Chamoli presented him a set of appeals and demands highlighting the need to treat the Char Dham yatra as a pilgrimage and not as a picnic.

He sought support for the demands raised by the samiti, including revival of the old foot route of the Char Dham Yatra.

Ashish Vashisht, a close aide of the seer, said the abstinence from eating meat and liquor was of utmost importance during the Char Dham Yatra as it was considered a sin of an alarming proportion and not adhering to this could affect the individuals adversely.

He appealed to all to maintain the religious sanctity of the holy shrines and not to indulge in the acts considered sinful in Vedas.

Hindu seers Saurabh Brahmchari, Sami Brahmanand and Pashupatinath Bagwadi were present on the occasion.