Actress Mamta Kulkarni was made the Mahamandelshwar of the Kinnar Akhara on January 24, 2025. As per reports, various saints objected this decision.
According to Aaj Tak, the decision taken by Laxmi Narayan Tripathi created a spilt in the Kinnar Akhara. Rishi Ajay Das, who says that he founded Kinnar Akhara, expelled Mamta Kulkarni from the Akhara. He also expelled Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi from the Akhara for inducting Kulkarni.
As per reports, this happened after the stampede in Maha Kumbh Fair.
Speaking to ANI, Rishi Ajay Das stated that, “I established Kinnar Akhara on 13th October 2015 at my ashram in Ujjain (MP). Land was allotted under my name at Simhastha Kumbh in Ujjain, in 2016. I set up Kinnar Akhara and formed it. Acharya Mahamandleshwar was running the Akhara. It didn’t meet the expectations of the ‘dharma’ and ‘karma’ for which I had established it. That was fine. But a person like Mamta Kulkarni who has allegations of indulging in anti-national activities against her was suddenly brought here and without ‘sanyas’, she was directly anointed as Mahamandleshwar. This is not right. So, I am taking action against them…They have done things arbitrarily and did not act as per ‘dharma’. They made such a person Mahamandleshwar who was not eligible at all…She was given a position without following any rules or regulations. So, I announced their expulsion.”
#WATCH | Rishi Ajay Das, who says that he founded Kinnar Akhara, expelled Mamta Kulkarni from the Akhara. He also expelled Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi from the Akhara for inducting Kulkarni.
— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2025
He says, "I established Kinnar Akhara on 13th October 2015 at my ashram in… pic.twitter.com/PDmT6h9MGx
A group of Kinnar Akhara come in support of Laxmi and Mamta amid this controversy.
