To investigate a case of alleged encroachment by a self-styled godman who built an unauthorized temple on government land at "Devi Kund," located at an altitude of approximately 4,500m near the Sunderdhunga glacier in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, a joint team of police, revenue, and forest department officials is scheduled to trek for approximately 35km. An official confirmed that they might also take down the structure if necessary.
Officials stated that "Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash" professed to have received heavenly guidance to build the temple on the environmentally delicate mountain.
We were notified of a complaint alleging Yogi Chaitanya Akash's unauthorized construction of the Devi Kund temple. To look into the situation, the departments of revenue, forestry, and police have formed a combined team. The group will hike to the lake known as Devi Kund. We've been unable to locate him. Preliminary reports state that the locals there assisted the baba in building the temple, but they have since complained against him. The locals saw the kund as a sign of religion, and they were offended when Baba dipped in it and posted images of it on Facebook, according to Kapkot sub divisional magistrate Anurag Arya.
The villagers say that Akash arrived in Devi Kund two or three months ago. There is a lot of people moving through the area before to June 15, when the Sunderdhunga walk closes to the public.
According to Sanjay Singh, an officer from the revenue department, depending on the weather, it would take them at least two to three days to get to Devi Kund. SDM has requested that we visit the location with the police and the forest department to conduct an area inspection. He stated that the inspection report will be shared with the SDM for additional action.
In its appeal to the district magistrate of Bageshwar, the Danpur Sewa Samiti claimed that "Devi Kund," which is around 36 km from Jatoli, is an environmentally important area in addition to a place of worship. Devi Kund has historical ties to the Aadi Badri Maa Bhagwati shrine in Badiyakot. At Badiyakot, during the eight-day Nanda Ashtami celebration, priests go barefoot to Devi Kund, where they do pooja and take a plunge in the holy lake. and then descend to the Badiyakot temple to carry out ceremonies. The custom dates back many generations. The lake's holiness is maintained by the followers. But Yogi Chaitanya Akash not only erected a temple there without authorization, but he also posted images of himself swimming on Facebook and other social media sites. The Samiti said in their letter that he is making fun of people's faith.
