Nasik, Aug 01: All religious activities for the ongoing ‘kumbh mela’ were halted today while business establishments downed shutters in the pilgrim town of Trimbakeshwar, about 29 kms from here, in response to a bandh to pay homage to Mahant Ramchandradas Paramhans Das, who passed away at Ayodhya yesterday. The call for Trimbakeshwar bandh was given by the national president of Shri Shambhu Panchnam Juna Akhada, Paramananda Saraswati as a mark of respect to the Paramhans, who was the chief of Digambar Akhada and president of Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas.

Several mahants and sadhus were also observing a day's fast on the occasion and offered prayers in their respective akhadas for peace to the departed soul.

President of the traders' association, Mangilal Sarda told reporters that all commercial activities were stopped in response to the bandh.
Mahants and sadhus headed by Paramanand Saraswati, Sagarananda Saraswati, president of Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council (TMC) Pushpa Zole, Purohit Sangh president Jayant Shikhare held a meeting last evening to pay rich tributes to the Paramhans and observed two-minutes' silence.

A similar meeting of mahant and sadhus was held in Nasik yesterday to pay homage to the Paramhans.
Bureau Report