In a major development, Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj aka Premanand Ji Maharaj's night march (Padyatra) that takes at 2 am has been suspended indefinitely. Premanand Ji Maharaj, known as a supreme devotee of Radharani, hardly needs any introduction today. Not only common people but even celebrities around the world come to Vrindavan to seek his blessings and that includes Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma.
The sermons that Maharaj Ji gives in his ashram Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj in Vrindavan are heard by people all over the world through YouTube and social media platforms. One of the major event that devotees used to wait to witness was Premanand Ji Maharaj's padyatra (march) at 2 am in the night. Thousands of devotees used to gather for darshan and shower the route with flowers during Premanand Ji Maharaj's Padyatra.
However, Premanand Ji Maharaj's Padyatra has now been suspended indefinitely. Radhe Keli Kunj announced the suspension on its official X handle where it outlined that Premanand Ji Maharaj's Padyatra's suspension decision has been taken keeping Maharaj ji's health in mind, also due to large gatherings of people.
"(Translated version) All of you are informed that keeping in view the health of Pujya Maharaj ji and the increasing crowd, Pujya Maharaj ji, who used to go to Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj from 02:00 in the night while doing padayatra, where everyone used to have darshan, is closed indefinitely," reads Bhajan Marg's post.
However, multiple reports are also linking the suspension of Maharaj Ji's Padyatra to a recent controversy.
Premanand Ji Maharaj's Nightime Padyatra Suspension Reason
On Tuesday, the night Padyatra was opposed by the NRI Green Society. The women of the society protested with placards in their hands. The women had written on the placards, what kind of devotion and philosophy is this? This is a display of power. The women said that in the name of religion, people are breaking the rules.
The protesting women further said that there is a lot of noise and people are not able to sleep properly. There is also a problem in sending children to school in the morning. Many women here work. They said that the whole day is spoiled due to not being able to sleep properly at night. There is a delay in going to work.
However, then the people associated with the Kelly Kunj Ashram said that the people standing in the way are not disciples of Maharaj Ji and neither are they called by Maharaj Ji or any disciple associated with him. These people have also been forbidden from doing bhajan kirtan in a loud voice. An appeal has always been made not to create noise pollution during the walk.