Mahamaagham festival faces uncertainty amid dispute over management, leadership

The second edition of the ‘Mahamaagham’ festival, which is planned at Tirunavaya in the district, is facing uncertainty amid a dispute over its management, finances and leadership.

Margadarshak Mandalam, a group of Hindu ascetics in Kerala, has accused Juna Akhara Mahamandaleshwar Swami Bharati of ousting existing festival organizers and failing to maintain financial transparency.

The festival was held in 2026 on the banks of Bharathapuzha in Tirunavaya. According to a statement by Margadarshak Mandalam president Swami Chidananda Puri and general secretary Swami Satswaroopananda Saraswati, the disputes arose after Anandavanam Bharati joined the organizing committee of the 2026 event.

Mandalam alleged that Anandavanam Bharati was trying to take control of the festival and announced that the next edition would run for 51 days without consulting the existing organizers.

It also raised questions about the management of festival funds, claiming that the old committee was left with expenses and liabilities.

The dispute reportedly prevented organizers from forming an admissions committee for next year’s event, leaving its arrangement uncertain.

Mandalam said talks with Anandavanam Bharati failed after he insisted on conducting the festival in the form of ‘Keralam Kumbh Mela’ under Jun Akhar. It proposed to unite the organizers from both banks of the river under one committee.

At a subsequent meeting in Tirunavaya, representatives of both groups agreed to cooperate and asked Mandalam to conduct the festival. Mandalam said the request would consider meeting conditions, including a unified committee and an independent audit of income and expenditure, with the accounts being made public.

However, no final decision on management or arrangements for the upcoming event has been announced. With the organizers divided and the governance structure yet to be settled, the timing and future arrangement of the next Mahamaagham festival remains uncertain.

Published – 19 October 2026 07:00 IST