Trimbakeshwar: Thousands of Sadhus (Saints) on September 7 took part in the third and final 'shahi snan' (royal bath) of Kumbh Mela 2003 at Kushavartha Teerth in Trimbakeshwar amidst unprecedented security even as mahants and naga sadhus of Juna Akhada declined to participate in protest against the 'boycott' of their akhada by other akhadas.

Mahants and sadhus belonging to Avahan, Agni, Anand, Niranjani, Mahanirwani and Atal Akhadas took the royal bath between 4.00 am and 5.35 am in the sacred pond after which it was kept reserved for Vaishnav sadhus till 8.00 am.

The holy men arrived for the royal bath in a processions, carrying their 'nishan' (symbols), silver maces with beautiful carvings, silver palanquins mounted on cars or car roofs, spears with silver rods and also with golden idols of their favourite Gods.

Chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole' and 'Har Har Mahadev', the naga sadhus smeared in ash and flower- garlands took a holy dip and offered prayers to Lord Shiva in the ancient Trimbakeshwar temple which houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.

However, the procession by sadhus were simple and without music and other instruments this time as a mark of respect to the victims of stampede incident at Nasik on August 27.

Meanwhile, following internal disputes, nine akhadas 'boycotted' the Juna Akhada on September 5 after a meeting of Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad presided over by its president Mahant Sagaranand Saraswati.

National president of Shri Shambhu Panch Dashnam Juna Akhada Paramanand Saraswati, while talking to reporters, alleged that there was a "political conspiracy" against their akhada.

PTI