Patna: Plans for a religious gathering in Patna featuring prominent Hindu spiritual leaders remain in limbo, as the district administration has yet to grant permission for the event scheduled for July 6.
Among those expected to attend are Bageshwar Dham’s Peethadheeshwar Acharya Pandit Dhirendra Shastri and Tulsi Peethadheeshwar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, both well-known figures who have drawn large crowds at previous events.
However, authorities have expressed concerns over crowd control and law and order, recalling the significant logistical challenges faced during Pandit Dhirendra Shastri’s programme in Naubatpur last year.
Officials said a team may be constituted to assess the potential impact of the proposed saint gathering on the city’s security and traffic management. The administration has indicated that any decision on permission will hinge on this report, including an estimate of how large a crowd might gather at Gandhi Maidan and what security measures would be required.
The district control room has reportedly received information from various sources suggesting that several saints, including Acharya Dhirendra Shastri, plan to hold the gathering at Gandhi Maidan.
Earlier in May 2025, Dhirendra Shastri visited Muzaffarpur, where he participated in a large religious ritual and delivered a sermon. Prior to that, he spent five days narrating religious stories during a seven-day yajna at Taret Pali Math in Patna.
During his previous visit, Shastri sparked political controversy after declaring that Bihar would play a key role in turning India into a “Hindu nation,” a statement that drew significant debate among political circles.
