Kartik Poornima Snan at Hajipur
Hajipur is an ancient city with rich Indian Heritage. The existence of this city was known since the Mahabharata and Buddha period. But there are very few people who know that Lord Hari’s incarnation was seen at Hajipur and hence the city was named as Haripur. The city was ruled by King Hari Singh. He started a custom of Shahi Snan for Hindus at river Gandak on Kartik Poornima every year. During this period, a very grand Animal Fair was also organized which was at one time the biggest animal fair in Asia.
But now the town is known by the name of Hajipur as it was named after Haji Ilyas Shah who ruled between 1345 to 1358 A.D. He stopped the custom of Shahi Snan and killed many saints who protested against his will. Since then, the custom of Shahi Snan was stopped and Haripur became Hajipur.
In the year 2007, Gurunath Akhada resumed the custom of Shahi Snan on its own. This step was taken in lieu of regaining the cultural heritage of the city and for propagating the old Hindu customs. Initially, there was no support from the Bihar Government and hence the complete ownership was taken by Sewak Sanjaynath and his supporters of Gurunath Akhada.
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Since then, every year, the Shahi Snan is organized by Gurunath Akhada and Vishwa Hindu Vama Shakti. On every Kartik Poornima Jagatguru Vamacharya Sewak Sanjaynath, along with his Akhada members, take the holy Shahi Snan at Gandak River.Before the sacred bath, a procession headed by Sewak Sanjaynath, is organized and is known as “Haripur Parikrama”.When the Jagatguru takes bath in the holy river, all the devotees also go ahead and take the bath.
The Sanatan Dharma Sansad of Gurunath Akhada organizes a meeting of all saints after the Shahi Snan. Here during the meeting, various issues related to Hindu Dharma are discussed and action plans are taken under the able guidance of the Jagatguru Vamacharya.
The major action decided during this Shahi Snan includes the demand of Gurunath Akhada to rename Hajipur as Haripur and to close the slaughterhouses at Hajipur which kill and sell cow meat.